外 (wài) - outside & external

外Tone 4

wài ｜ 5 strokes ｜ radical: 夕

婷婉

外 · wài

outside;

external;

foreign;

other;

beyond;

in addition;

relatives of one's mother, sister or daughter

outsideexternalforeign

Usage highlights

outsideforeign countryappearanceoutdoorforeign languageexternal

Synonyms

Antonyms

  • 内— inside, internal
  • 里— inside, within

Usage & contexts

Examples

  • He is waiting outside (外面).
  • This is a foreign company (外国公司).
  • She studies abroad (在国外学习).
  • This is an external hard drive (外置硬盘).

Collocations

  • outside(外面)
  • foreign country(外国)
  • appearance(外表)
  • outdoor(户外)
  • foreign language(外语)
  • external(外部)

Idioms

  • Unexpected surprise(喜出望外)
  • Looking on from the sidelines(袖手旁观)
  • Beyond one's expectation(出乎意外)
  • Appearance and inner reality differ(表里不一)

Cultural background

FAQ
  • In traditional Chinese culture, 'nei-wai' (内外) represents the fundamental dichotomy between inside/outside, private/public, family/stranger.
  • Used in kinship terms to distinguish maternal relatives (外婆 - maternal grandmother) from paternal ones.
  • Historically associated with foreign lands and cultures beyond China's borders.

FAQ