格外

gé wài

HSK 2.0 Level 5 HSK 3.0 Level 5 Adverb Uncommon

Definitions

1 item

more (than sth else)

Used to express 'even more' in comparative contexts, while 格外 emphasizes exceptional degree.

2 items

unusual; special

In the sense of 'especially' or 'particularly' when emphasizing a quality or degree.

exceptionally

In the sense of 'extraordinarily' or 'unusually', often in written or literary contexts.

格外 cannot be used to form comparative sentences with 比; use 更加 or 还 instead (e.g., 今天比昨天格外冷 ✗ → 今天比昨天更冷 ✓).

格外 is neutral-to-formal in register; in very casual speech 特别 is more common, though 格外 can be used in everyday conversation for emphasis.

2 shown

今天的天气格外好。

Today's weather is especially good.

这座宫殿在阳光下显得格外辉煌。

This palace looks especially splendid under the sunlight.

AI-generated examples are marked with this icon.

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