外币

• Pinyin: wài bì
• Hanzi breakdown: 外 = 夕 (evening) + 卜 (divination); 币 = simplified from 幣, relating to silk/cloth used as currency

Meaning

Foreign currency. Money issued by countries other than one's own.

Used in financial and travel contexts. Common activities: 兑换外币 (exchange foreign currency), 外币存款 (foreign currency deposit). Major foreign currencies include 美元 (USD), 欧元 (EUR), 日元 (JPY), 英镑 (GBP).

Examples

1. 出国旅游之前，记得提前去银行兑换一些外币。 Before traveling abroad, remember to exchange some foreign currency at the bank in advance.
2. 这家银行提供多种外币的存取服务。 This bank offers deposit and withdrawal services for various foreign currencies.
3. 最近美元汇率上涨，很多人都在买入外币。 The US dollar exchange rate has risen recently, and many people are buying foreign currency.

Usage Guide

Context: finance, travel, banking

Tone: neutral

Do Say

• 我需要兑换一些外币。(I need to exchange some foreign currency.)
• 这家银行可以存外币。(This bank can hold foreign currency deposits.)

Don't Say

• 我有一些外币钱 — '外币'本身就是钱，不需要再加'钱'字

Origin & History

Compound of 外 (foreign, outside) + 币 (currency, money). Straightforward combination meaning currency from outside (one's country).

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal