外汇

• Pinyin: wài huì
• Hanzi breakdown: 外 = 夕(evening) + 卜 (divination); 汇 = 氵(water) + simplified 彙 (to converge)

Meaning

Foreign exchange; foreign currency.

Refers to currencies other than the domestic currency (RMB in China), and to the foreign exchange market where currencies are traded. 外汇储备 means foreign exchange reserves; 外汇管制 means foreign exchange controls. Important in finance, travel, and international trade discussions.

Examples

1. 中国的外汇储备规模位居世界前列。 China's foreign exchange reserves rank among the largest in the world.
2. 出国旅行之前，最好提前在银行兑换好外汇。 Before travelling abroad, it is best to exchange foreign currency at a bank in advance.
3. 他去银行办理了外汇业务，把人民币换成了欧元。 He went to the bank to handle foreign exchange and converted his renminbi into euros.

Usage Guide

Context: finance, travel, business

Tone: neutral

Do Say

• 请问这里可以兑换外汇吗？(Excuse me, can foreign currency be exchanged here?)
• 外汇汇率每天都会有变动。(Foreign exchange rates fluctuate every day.)

Don't Say

• 外汇 ≠ 外币 — 外汇 (foreign exchange) is the broader concept including the market and reserves; 外币 specifically refers to physical foreign banknotes/coins.

Origin & History

Compound of 外 (outside/foreign, from 夕 evening + 卜 divination) and 汇 (to converge/collect, simplified from 彙), together meaning 'foreign currency flows.'

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal