Chinese Conversation · Level 2
86 words
Chinese word
外
Pronunciation
Pinyinwài
Meaning
- nounoutside
Example
我们去外面走走吧。wǒ men qù wài miàn zóu zǒu ba
Let's go for a walk outside.
More examples
他一直呆在外面等我。tā yì zhí dāi zài wài miàn děng wǒ
He stayed outside waiting for me the whole time.
Core concept
The space or surface beyond a boundary, away from what it surrounds.
Common phrases
外面wài miàn
outside
到外面去dào wài miàn qù
go outside
从外面回来cóng wài miàn huí lái
return from outside
Similar words
外面wài miàn: The outside part of something or the area directly beyond it.
户外hù wài: A place outside buildings and under the open sky.
外边wài biān: An outside area or position on the outer side of something.
Definition in Chinese
表示不在某一界限之内、位于界限之外的地方或方向；常用于指屋外或物体的外部，也可引申为对立的外部概念。biǎo shì bú zài mǒu yí jiè xiàn zhī nèi wèi yú jiè xiàn zhī wài de dì fāng huò fāng xiàng cháng yòng yú zhǐ wū wài huò wù tǐ de wài bù yě kě yǐn shēn wèi duì lì de wài bù gài niàn
Word origin
The basic word 外 (wài, "outside") developed as the opposite of 内 (nèi, "inside"), and this inside-versus-outside contrast supports its uses for places, objects, and wider boundaries.
Usage tips
- Chinese often places the location before 外 (wài, "outside") in a location expression, whereas English usually puts outside before the location.
Other meanings
- exteriornoun
Opposites
- 里lǐinsidenoun