外国

• Pinyin: wài guó
• Hanzi breakdown: 外 = outside/foreign; 国 = country — 'outside country'

Meaning

Foreign country; abroad. Refers to any country other than China.

A general term for countries outside of China. Commonly used in the compound 外国人 (foreigner). In Chinese culture, 外国 often implicitly refers to Western countries, though it technically means any foreign nation.

Examples

1. 他是外国人。 He is a foreigner.
2. 我想去外国旅行。 I want to travel abroad.
3. 这是一本外国书。 This is a foreign book.

Usage Guide

Context: geography, culture

Tone: neutral

Do Say

• 你去过外国吗？(Have you been abroad?)
• 她有很多外国朋友。(She has many foreign friends.)

Don't Say

• 我从外国来了。(Unnatural — say 我从外国来的 or specify the country: 我从美国来的)

Origin & History

A compound of 外 (outside/external) and 国 (country), literally meaning 'outside country.'

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal