Definitions
(adjective)
other; another
(adjective,adverb)
separate; separately
Etymology
Variant of 冎. Pictograph of bones. Based on the original meaning "bones". The meaning later shifted to "separate", "other" and "another".
About
The character "另" is structurally composed of the components "口" meaning mouth and "力" meaning force, a combination that originally implied an act of separation or distinct effort, often through command. In classical Chinese, it was used as a verb meaning to divide or to set apart, but its function gradually shifted to that of an adjective and adverb denoting something other or additional, as seen in modern constructs like "另外" for "besides" or "separately". This semantic change moved from a concrete action to a more abstract indicator of alternativity or supplementation, while its graphical form has stayed unchanged.
Example Sentences Hide
我买了另一个。
他选了另一本书。
我们需要另找时间。
她另付了十块钱。
如果你不喜欢，可以另选。
老板另有安排，会议取消了。
此事另案处理。
鉴于情况有变，我们需另行通知具体时间。