used when describing two people or things that are very close to each other with nothing between them

Can I sit next to the window? 我可以靠窗坐吗？

There was a really strange man standing next to me at the train station. 在车站有一个很古怪的男人站在我旁边。

I was sitting next to Chris, opposite Susie.

She keeps a photo of her son on the table next to her bed.

There are public gardens just next to the river.

There's a really nice bookshop right next to the deli.

We were standing next to each other.

used to mean `after' when making a choice or a comparison

Cheese is my favourite food and, next to that, chocolate. (= Cheese is the only food that I like more than chocolate.) 奶酪是我最喜欢的食品，其次是巧克力。

almost

They pay me next to nothing (= very little) but I really enjoy the work. 他们没付给我多少钱，但我实在喜欢那工作。

It's next to impossible (= extremely difficult) to find somewhere cheap to live around here. 要在这附近找到廉价的住处极其困难。

We got home in next to no time (= very little time). 我们很快就到家了。

See also: next adverb