留学生

• Pinyin: liú xué shēng
• Hanzi breakdown: 留 (liú) — to stay; 学 (xué) — to study; 生 (shēng) — student

Meaning

International student; exchange student. A student who studies abroad or a foreign student studying in China.

Can refer to Chinese students studying overseas or foreign students studying in China, depending on context. Very commonly used in university settings. The term carries no negative connotation and is a neutral, standard label.

Examples

1. 我们班有三个留学生。 There are three international students in our class.
2. 他是从美国来的留学生。 He's an exchange student from America.
3. 留学生的生活有时候很辛苦。 Life as an international student can be quite tough sometimes.

Usage Guide

Context: education, university

Tone: neutral

Do Say

• 我是一个中国的留学生。(I'm a Chinese student studying abroad.)
• 这所大学有很多留学生。(This university has a lot of international students.)

Don't Say

• 不要用'留学生'来指短期旅行的人 (Don't use 留学生 for tourists or short-term visitors — it specifically means enrolled students)

Origin & History

Compound of 留学 (study abroad, literally 'stay-study') + 生 (student). The concept of 留学 became widespread in the late Qing dynasty when Chinese students were sent abroad for modern education.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal