外星人

• Pinyin: wài xīng rén
• Desglose de hanzi: 外 = 夕 + 卜; 星 = 日 (sun/star) + 生 (birth/life) — a bright celestial body; 人 = pictograph of a standing person

Significado

Extraterrestre; alienígena.

Literally 'person from outer stars.' Used both literally (sci-fi, astronomy discussions) and figuratively. Colloquially, calling someone 外星人 suggests they are so unusual or brilliantly unconventional that they seem not to be from this world — similar to 'you're on another planet' in English. Can be a compliment (gifted genius) or gentle teasing (hopelessly out of touch with pop culture).

Ejemplos

1. 科学家们至今还没有发现外星人存在的确凿证据，但对地外生命的探索从未停止。
2. 他对流行文化毫无了解，朋友们开玩笑说他简直是个外星人。
3. 那部科幻电影里的外星人形象设计非常独特，完全颠覆了传统的绿皮小矮人印象。

Guía de uso

Contexto: sci-fi, casual, science, humour

Tono: playful

Correcto

• 他从不刷社交媒体、不看综艺、不追剧，同事都说他像个外星人。(He never uses social media, watches variety shows, or follows dramas — his colleagues say he's like an alien.)
• 如果宇宙中真的存在外星人，他们对人类文明会有怎样的看法呢？(If aliens truly exist in the universe, what would they make of human civilisation?)

Incorrecto

• 在正式科学报告中用外星人代替更精确的术语 (In rigorous scientific writing, use 地外生命 (extraterrestrial life) or 外星生物 (alien organisms); 外星人 is informal and implies a person-like being)

Origen e historia

Compound of 外 (outside) + 星 (star) + 人 (person). Literally 'person from outside the stars.' A modern compound that gained widespread use as Western science fiction became popular in China.

Contexto cultural

Generación: All ages

Contexto social: Universal