Chinese word

外来

Pronunciation

Pinyinwài lái

Meaning

  • adjectiveforeign

Example

这是一种外来植物。zhè shì yì zhǒng wài lái zhí wù

This is a foreign plant.

Illustration for 外来 (foreign)

More examples

很多外来文化通过媒体传播。hěn duō wài lái wén huà tōng guò méi tǐ chuán bō

Many foreign cultures spread through the media.

Core concept

Something enters a local setting with its origin elsewhere.

Common phrases

  • 外来词wài lái cí

    loanword

  • 外来植物wài lái zhí wù

    introduced plant

  • 外来文化wài lái wén huà

    foreign culture

Similar words

外地的wài dì de: Having its home or source in a different area.
异地的yì dì de: Involving people, things, or events from another location.

Definition in Chinese

指由外地或国外引入并在当地出现或存在的事物或属性，作为形容词用于修饰名词，常见于生物、词汇等搭配。zhǐ yóu wài dì huò guó wài yǐn rù bìng zài dāng dì chū xiàn huò cún zài de shì wù huò shǔ xìng zuò wéi xíng róng cí yòng yú xiū shì míng cí cháng jiàn yú shēng wù cí huì děng dā pèi

Word origin

The word 外来 (wàilái, "foreign") is formed from 外 (wài, "outside") and 来 (lái, "come"), so its structure highlights arrival from an external source.

Usage tips

  • Because 外来 (wàilái, "foreign") is an adjective, it comes before the noun and describes where that noun came from, not where it is now.

Opposites

Related words

  • 外来词wài lái cíloanwordnoun
  • 外来人口wài lái rén kǒumigrant populationnoun

Word lists with this word