外交官

• Pinyin: wài jiāo guān
• Hanzi breakdown: 外 = 夕(evening) + 卜 (divination); 交 = pictograph of a person with crossed legs (交叉); 官 = 宀(roof) + phonetic component

Meaning

Diplomat; a government official who represents their country in foreign affairs.

Covers all diplomatic titles including ambassador (大使), consul (领事), and attaché (随员). Used in formal and journalistic contexts. Implies a professional career in international relations. 外交 alone means diplomacy; 外交部 is the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Examples

1. 她是一位经验丰富的外交官，曾在多个国家驻外工作。 She is an experienced diplomat who has served as a resident official in several countries.
2. 外交官需要具备出色的语言能力和跨文化沟通技巧。 Diplomats need excellent language skills and cross-cultural communication abilities.
3. 这位外交官代表本国政府出席了联合国气候峰会。 This diplomat represented the national government at the UN Climate Summit.

Usage Guide

Context: politics, international affairs

Tone: respectful

Do Say

• 这位外交官在谈判中发挥了关键作用。(This diplomat played a key role in the negotiations.)
• 他从小就梦想成为一名外交官。(He has dreamed of becoming a diplomat since he was a child.)

Don't Say

• 外交官 ≠ 外国人 — 外交官 is a diplomat with official status; 外国人 simply means a foreigner. Don't confuse them.

Origin & History

Compound of 外交 (diplomacy/foreign affairs, literally 'external interactions') and 官 (official, from 宀 roof + phonetic), together: an official in charge of foreign affairs.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal