Chinese word

外观

Pronunciation

Pinyinwài guān

Meaning

  • nounappearance

Example

外观不能代表内在，要多了解对方。wài guān bù néng dài biǎo nèi zài yào duō liáo jiě duì fāng

Appearance cannot show what is inside, so one should get to know the other person better.

Illustration for 外观 (appearance)

More examples

这件衣服虽然外观漂亮，但质量一般。zhè jiàn yī fú suī rán wài guān piào liàng dàn zhì liàng yì bān

Although this garment has a beautiful appearance, its quality is average.

Core concept

The visible outside of a person or thing, including its shape, clothing, and styling.

Common phrases

  • 外观漂亮wài guān piào liàng

    beautiful appearance

  • 外观受损wài guān shòu sǔn

    damaged appearance

  • 外观完好wài guān wán hǎo

    intact appearance

Similar words

外表wài biǎo: The surface look of a person or thing and the way it appears from the outside.
长相zhǎng xiàng: A person's facial features and the general impression made by the face.
外形wài xíng: The outside shape and outline of a thing that can be seen.
外貌wài mào: A person's visible facial appearance and outward physical form.

Definition in Chinese

指人或物在视觉上给人的外貌、样子或仪表，包含面貌、服饰、造型等可见要素，但不含心理或内在品质。zhǐ rén huò wù zài shì jué shàng gěi rén de wài mào yàng zi huò yí biǎo bāo hán miàn mào fú shì zào xíng děng kě jiàn yào sù dàn bù hán xīn lǐ huò nèi zài pǐn zhì

Word origin

外 (wài, "outside") + 观 (guān, "view") forms a compound for the part of a person or thing that can be seen from the outside.

Usage tips

  • In conversation, this noun sounds relatively formal and often appears in product descriptions, design discussions, and neutral writing.

Other meanings

  • physical appearancenoun

Opposites

Related words

  • 外观检查wài guān jiǎn cháappearance inspectionnoun

Word lists with this word