Chinese word

外文

Pronunciation

Pinyinwài wén

Meaning

  • nounforeign-language text

Example

这篇外文很难懂。zhè piān wài wén hěn nán dǒng

This foreign-language text is hard to understand.

Illustration for 外文 (foreign-language text)

More examples

我们需要查找更多的外文资料。wǒ men xū yào chá zhǎo gèng duō de wài wén zī liào

We need to find more foreign-language materials.

Core concept

Written material that comes from outside the language community, especially books, articles, and other substantial texts.

Common phrases

  • 外文资料wài wén zī liào

    foreign-language materials

  • 外文报纸wài wén bào zhǐ

    foreign-language newspaper

  • 外文杂志wài wén zá zhì

    foreign-language magazine

Similar words

外语wài yǔ: A language used in another country or community for speaking or writing.
文章wén zhāng: A piece or collection of writing that conveys meaning through connected text.
资料zī liào: Documents or data collected for reference, study, or practical use.

Definition in Chinese

用非母语或非本国语言撰写的书面材料，通常指书籍、期刊文章或学术文献。yòng fēi mú yǔ huò fēi běn guó yǔ yán zhuàn xiě de shū miàn cái liào tōng cháng zhǐ shū jí qī kān wén zhāng huò xué shù wén xiàn

Word origin

外文 (wàiwén, "foreign-language writing") combines 外 (wài, "outside or foreign") with 文 (wén, "written language"), linking an outside language with written material.

Usage tips

  • This noun is most useful when the language itself is not the main topic; when the language matters, a specific language name gives clearer information.

Other meanings

  • foreign languagenoun
  • foreign-language literaturenoun

Opposites

Related words

  • 外文系wài wén xìforeign-language departmentnoun
  • 外文学院wài wén xué yuànforeign-language collegenoun

Word lists with this word