户外

• Pinyin: hù wài
• Hanzi breakdown: 户 = simplified from 戶, depicting a door; 外 = 卜 (divination) + 夕 (evening), meaning outside

Meaning

Outdoor; outdoors. Outside of buildings, in the open air.

Used for outdoor activities (户外运动), outdoor advertising (户外广告), and outdoor gear (户外装备). Common collocations: 户外活动 (outdoor activities), 户外烧烤 (outdoor barbecue), 户外探险 (outdoor adventure). Growing in popularity with interest in camping and hiking.

Examples

1. 周末我们打算去郊外搞一次户外烧烤，你要不要一起来？ We're planning to have an outdoor barbecue in the suburbs this weekend — want to come along?
2. 户外运动对身心健康都有好处，建议大家多参加。 Outdoor sports are good for both physical and mental health — everyone is encouraged to participate more.
3. 这家公司专门做户外广告，在各大商圈都有大型广告牌。 This company specializes in outdoor advertising and has large billboards in all major business districts.

Usage Guide

Context: leisure, sports, advertising

Tone: active

Do Say

• 今天天气好，适合户外活动。(The weather is nice today, good for outdoor activities.)
• 你喜欢户外还是室内运动？(Do you prefer outdoor or indoor sports?)

Don't Say

• 用户外形容阳台 (Don't use 户外 for a balcony — use 露台 or 阳台; 户外 implies fully outside)

Origin & History

Compound of 户 (door, household) + 外 (outside). Literally 'outside the door,' meaning outdoors.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal