内部

• Pinyin: nèi bù
• Hanzi breakdown: 内 = 冂 (enclosure) + 入 (enter) — entering an enclosure, hence 'inside'; 部 = 咅 (phonetic) + 阝(mound/city) — a section or division

Meaning

Interior; internal; inside. The inner part or aspects of an organisation, building, or system.

Refers to the inside or inner workings of something, whether physical (building interior) or abstract (internal affairs of a company). Commonly seen in phrases like 内部消息 (inside information), 内部调查 (internal investigation), and 内部员工 (internal staff). Contrasts with 外部 (external).

Examples

1. 这件事是公司内部的问题，外人不了解。 This is an internal company matter; outsiders don't understand it.
2. 博物馆内部的装修非常漂亮。 The interior decoration of the museum is very beautiful.
3. 会议的内部资料不能对外公开。 The internal meeting materials cannot be made public.

Usage Guide

Context: organisations, descriptions, business

Tone: professional

Do Say

• 这是内部文件，请不要外传。(This is an internal document; please do not share it externally.)
• 我们需要解决内部的矛盾。(We need to resolve our internal conflicts.)

Don't Say

• 用'内部'形容个人身体内部 (Don't use 内部 to describe the inside of a person's body — use 体内 instead; 内部 is for organisations, buildings, and systems)

Origin & History

A compound of 内 (inside/within) and 部 (part/section) — the inner part or inner section of something.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal