外

• 拼音: wài
• 汉字拆解: 外 = 夕 (evening) + 卜 (divination) — original meaning related to external matters

含义

Outside; outer; external. A basic direction word indicating the exterior.

Rarely used alone in modern Chinese — usually combined with 面 or 边 to form location words like 外面 or 外边. Also used in compounds such as 外国 (foreign country), 外语 (foreign language), and 外人 (outsider). Opposite of 里/内.

例句

1. 外面在下雨。
2. 孩子们在外面玩儿。
3. 你从外面进来吧。

用法指南

语境: location, direction

语气: neutral

正确说法

• 门外面有人。(There is someone outside the door.)
• 你看外面的天气。(Look at the weather outside.)

错误说法

• 我去外。(Incomplete — say 我去外面 or 我去外边; 外 alone is rarely used as a standalone location word)

起源与历史

Composed of 夕 (evening/moon) and 卜 (divination), originally relating to divination about external or outside matters.

文化背景

世代: All ages

社会背景: Universal