Meaning
outside; in addition; foreign; external
Chinese: 外面、外国或非本方。
Hear the Four Tones
The same syllable “wai” becomes a different word in each tone. 外 is the 4th tone. Tap any tone to hear a native voice and see its pitch shape.
Stroke Order
Tap Animate to watch the strokes in order, or Practice to trace it yourself.
Common Words
- 国外guó wàiabroad; external (affairs); overseas; foreign
- 外国wài guóforeign country
- 外语wài yǔforeign language
- 外边wài bianoutside; outer surface; abroad; place other than one's home
- 外面wài miànoutside (; surface; exterior; external appearance
Example Sentence
外面正在下雪。Wài mian zhèng zài xià xuě.It is snowing outside.
外面Wài mianoutside (also pr. for this正zhèngfirst month of the lunar y在下zài xiàunder雪xuěsnow。
Go deeper
Where this character comes from
夕 (evening) plus 卜 (divination): casting lots at an off time, away from routine — ‘outside / outer / foreign’.
A way to remember it
Off-hours and off-place — outside.
Easy to confuse with
- 内‘Inside’: the opposite of 外.