另当别论

另當別論

lìngdāngbiélùn

idiom #21,030

Meanings

1 should be treated as a separate matter
2 that is another question
3 must be considered differently

Characters

other / separate / another

to treat as / to regard as

separate / different

to discuss / to consider

Examples

一般情况下可以，但特殊情况就另当别论了。

Yībān qíngkuàng xià kěyǐ, dàn tèshū qíngkuàng jiù lìngdāngbiélùn le.

It is fine under normal circumstances, but special cases are a different matter.

如果违反规定，那就另当别论。

Rúguǒ wéifǎn guīdìng, nà jiù lìngdāngbiélùn.

If rules are violated, that is another story entirely.

Tips

usage

Typically used to signal an exception or contrast: first a general statement is made, then 另当别论 marks that a different situation must be handled separately. It often follows 但是/如果 (but / if) clauses.

Stroke Order

另 lìng

当 dāng

别 bié

论 lùn