Chinese word

海外

Pronunciation

Pinyinhǎi wài

Meaning

  • nounoverseas

Example

节假日很多人选择去海外旅游。jié jià rì hěn duō rén xuǎn zé qù hǎi wài lǚ yóu

During holidays, many people choose to travel overseas.

Illustration for 海外 (overseas)

More examples

这家公司的产品主要销往海外市场。zhè jiā gōng sī de chán pǐn zhǔ yào xiāo wǎng hǎi wài shì chǎng

This company's products are mainly sold to overseas markets.

Core concept

The world beyond one's own country's borders, especially as a place for travel, study, work, or residence.

Common phrases

  • 海外旅行hǎi wài lǚ xíng

    overseas travel

  • 海外留学hǎi wài liú xué

    study abroad

  • 海外投资hǎi wài tóu zī

    overseas investment

  • 海外市场hǎi wài shì chǎng

    overseas market

Similar words

国外guó wài: The countries and regions beyond one's national borders.
外国wài guó: A foreign country rather than one's own.
他国tā guó: A country other than one's own.

Definition in Chinese

指在本国之外的外国或地区，常用于谈论旅游、工作、学习等与出入境有关的情形。zhǐ zài běn guó zhī wài de wài guó huò dì qū cháng yòng yú tán lùn lǚ yóu gōng zuò xué xí děng yǔ chū rù jìng yǒu guān de qíng xíng

Word origin

海外 (hǎiwài, "overseas") joins 海 (hǎi, "sea") with 外 (wài, "outside") to form the image of places across the sea, a geographic image now used for foreign countries and regions.

Usage tips

  • The word fits practical plans and life settings, including 海外留学 (hǎiwài liúxué, "study abroad") and 在海外 (zài hǎiwài, "overseas"), so it can describe both an activity and where someone is.

Opposites

Related words

  • 海外华人hǎi wài huá rénoverseas Chinesenoun
  • 海外学者hǎi wài xué zhěoverseas scholarnoun
  • 海外公司hǎi wài gōng sīoverseas companynoun

Word lists with this word