adverb
next to it, besides
A1
Daneben is an adverb meaning either 'next to it' (spatially beside something) or 'besides/in addition' (also, moreover). It’s formed from da- + neben and used without a governing preposition. Not a verb; no reflexive or auxiliary. Context decides if spatial or additive meaning applies.
Examples
Er hat die Antwort vergessen, daneben lag sein Notizbuch.
He forgot the answer; besides that, his notebook was lying there.
Der Teller steht daneben.
The plate is next to it.
Der Kuchen stand auf dem Tisch, und daneben lag eine Karte, die der Bäcker am Morgen schrieb.
The cake stood on the table, and beside it lay a card that the baker wrote in the morning.
Details
Mnemonics
Imagine an object sitting beside another object — that is 'daneben'.
Think 'dana-ben' — 'da' (there) + 'neben' (next to).
Notes
'Daneben' often means 'next to' (spatial) but can also mean 'besides' or 'in addition' depending on context.