Chinese word

外国

Pronunciation

Pinyinwài guó

Meaning

  • nounforeign country

Example

她在外国工作。tā zài wài guó gōng zuò

She works in a foreign country.

Illustration for 外国 (foreign country)

More examples

她从外国来。tā cóng wài guó lái

She comes from a foreign country.

Core concept

A country or region viewed from beyond the borders of one's own country.

Common phrases

  • 外国人wài guó rén

    foreigner

  • 去外国qù wài guó

    go to a foreign country

  • 从外国来cóng wài guó lái

    come from a foreign country

Similar words

国外guó wài: A place beyond the borders of one's own country.
他国tā guó: Another country separate from one's own.
海外hǎi wài: A region in a foreign country across the sea.

Definition in Chinese

指在自己国家之外的其他国家或地区。zhǐ zài zì jǐ guó jiā zhī wài de qí tā guó jiā huò dì qū

Word origin

It combines 外 (wài, "outside") + 国 (guó, "country") to name a country beyond one's own borders.

Usage tips

  • In its noun use, this word names the place itself, whereas English "foreign" usually needs a noun after it and cannot stand alone as a place name.

Other meanings

  • abroadnoun
  • foreign landnoun

Opposites

Related words

  • 外国人wài guó rénforeignernoun

Word lists with this word