格外 (géwài) — especially; particularly; unusually

格外 (géwài)

格外 is an adverb meaning "especially," "particularly," or "unusually," used when something stands out as noticeably beyond the ordinary or expected level.

Meanings

1. [adverb] especially; particularly; unusually (indicates a quality is markedly beyond what is normal or expected in the current context)

Usage Note

格外 is placed before an adjective or verb and implies a comparison with a baseline. It emphasizes that in this particular situation, the quality is notably stronger than usual. It often carries a slightly subjective, experiential tone.

Compare with 特别 (tèbié) and 尤其 (yóuqí):

• 格外 focuses on "beyond the usual baseline in this moment" (e.g., the air feels unusually fresh today)
• 特别 is a general intensifier similar to "especially / very"
• 尤其 means "in particular," used to single out one item from a group

Example Sentences

节日的时候，街上格外热闹。 Jiérì de shíhou, jiē shàng géwài rènào. During the holiday, the streets are unusually lively.

雨后的空气格外清新。 Yǔ hòu de kōngqì géwài qīngxīn. The air after rain is especially fresh.

离家在外，才格外想念父母。 Lí jiā zài wài, cái géwài xiǎngniàn fùmǔ. When away from home, one misses one's parents all the more.

他今天格外安静，不知道发生了什么事。 Tā jīntiān géwài ānjìng, bù zhīdào fāshēng le shénme shì. He is unusually quiet today; I wonder what happened.

Collocations

Memory Hook

格 means "standard / pattern" and 外 means "outside / beyond." Something that is 格外 is outside the standard pattern, meaning it exceeds what is normal, making it "especially" or "unusually" so.