外语

• 拼音: wài yǔ
• 汉字拆解: 外 = outside/foreign; 语 = 讠(speech) + 吾 (I/me, phonetic) — language

含义

Foreign language. Refers to any language other than one's native language.

In China, 外语 most commonly refers to English, though it can mean any non-Chinese language. Schools and universities have 外语 departments. Learning at least one 外语 is a requirement in Chinese education from primary school onwards.

例句

1. 她会说三种外语。
2. 学外语很有意思。
3. 你学过什么外语？

用法指南

语境: language, education

语气: neutral

正确说法

• 他的外语说得很好。(He speaks foreign languages very well.)
• 我在学校学了两年外语。(I studied foreign languages for two years at school.)

错误说法

• 中文是我的外语。(Perspective matters — for Chinese people, 中文 is not 外语; 外语 means foreign to the speaker, so this is only correct for non-native speakers)

起源与历史

A compound of 外 (outside/foreign) and 语 (language), literally meaning 'foreign language.'

文化背景

世代: All ages

社会背景: Universal