外

• Pinyin: wài
• Hanzi breakdown: 外 = 夕 (evening) + 卜 (divination) — original meaning related to external matters

Meaning

Outside; outer; external. A basic direction word indicating the exterior.

Rarely used alone in modern Chinese — usually combined with 面 or 边 to form location words like 外面 or 外边. Also used in compounds such as 外国 (foreign country), 外语 (foreign language), and 外人 (outsider). Opposite of 里/内.

Examples

1. 外面在下雨。 It's raining outside.
2. 孩子们在外面玩儿。 The children are playing outside.
3. 你从外面进来吧。 Come in from outside.

Usage Guide

Context: location, direction

Tone: neutral

Do Say

• 门外面有人。(There is someone outside the door.)
• 你看外面的天气。(Look at the weather outside.)

Don't Say

• 我去外。(Incomplete — say 我去外面 or 我去外边; 外 alone is rarely used as a standalone location word)

Origin & History

Composed of 夕 (evening/moon) and 卜 (divination), originally relating to divination about external or outside matters.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal