对外

• Pinyin: duì wài
• Hanzi breakdown: 对 = facing; 外 = 夕 (evening) + 卜 (divination) — outside the home at night

Meaning

External; foreign-facing; outward. Relating to dealings with foreign countries or outside parties.

Commonly used in political and business contexts: 对外开放 (opening up to the outside world), 对外贸易 (foreign trade), 对外关系 (foreign relations). The opposite is 对内 (internal/domestic). In daily speech, 对外 can also mean 'open to the public' (如：餐厅对外营业).

Examples

1. 中国的对外开放政策促进了经济的快速发展。 China's opening-up policy has promoted rapid economic development.
2. 这家公司的对外业务主要集中在东南亚市场。 This company's foreign business is mainly concentrated in the Southeast Asian market.
3. 这个食堂以前只供内部员工使用，现在对外开放了。 This cafeteria used to be only for internal staff, but now it's open to the public.

Usage Guide

Context: business, politics, international

Tone: professional

Do Say

• 我们部门负责公司的对外合作项目。(Our department handles the company's external cooperation projects.)
• 这项政策加强了我国的对外贸易地位。(This policy has strengthened our country's position in foreign trade.)

Don't Say

• 在日常对话中过度使用对外 (Don't overuse 对外 in casual conversation — it sounds bureaucratic; for 'open to public' just say 公开 or 开放)

Origin & History

Compound of 对 (toward, facing) + 外 (outside, foreign). Literally 'facing outward.'

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal