格外
géwài · HSK 4
especially
➕ 格外 = 格 (frame/standard) + 外 (outside) → beyond the norm
Literally outside the usual frame or category, so it means exceptionally or especially. When something is 格外 good, it stands beyond the standard measure — extra, beyond-the-pale level of the quality.
格 — wood 木 + 各 (each, phonetic)
格 is a semantic-phonetic compound: 木 (wood) gives the meaning, originally referring to a wooden frame, lattice, or crossbar, while 各 supplies the sound. From 'frame/grid' the meaning extended to 'pattern, standard, style' and the modern senses of 'square (in a grid)' and 'character/disposition'.
外 — evening 夕 + divination 卜
Originally a compound of 夕 (evening) and 卜 (divination). Ancient Chinese divinations were performed in the morning; doing them at evening (夕) was considered irregular or 'outside' the norm. From this sense of deviation, 外 came to mean 'outside' or 'external'.