外带 (wài dài) — also; besides; as well

Definition

Used as a connector meaning 'also / besides / in addition', usually linking a second bonus or extra point after one has been stated. Stronger sense than a plain 'and' — highlights an additional fact. Often paralleled with 不仅 or paired with 还.

adverb
alsobesidesas well

Examples

  • ，外带。
    Zhè ge fāng àn chéng běn dī, wài dài xiào lǜ gāo.
    This plan has low cost and also high efficiency.
  • ，外带。
    Tā bù jǐn cōng ming, wài dài hái fēi cháng nǔ lì.
    He is not only smart but also very hardworking.
  • ，，外带。
    Zhè cì lǚ xíng, wǒ men cān guān le bó wù guǎn, wài dài yóu lǎn le gǔ chéng.
    On this trip, we visited the museum and also toured the ancient city.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
偏正piānzhèngModifier + head

The first part narrows down the second: it says what kind of thing the head is.

外wàibesides
带dàitake along

外 means besides and 带 means take along, yielding in addition.

Characters in this word

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
卜卜bǔ
Sound part声符shēngfú
月
月yuè外wài
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

外 pairs 卜 with 月, a crescent moon; in its older form, the 卜 part had a horizontal bar extending outward, giving the sense of outside.

Open 外 →

A drawing of the thing itself, worn down over three thousand years into a few strokes.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 帶; 带 is its simplified writing.

The traditional form 帶 was drawn as a woven belt; the simplified 带 is a later shorthand.

Open 带 →

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