verb HSK 2
Traditional 出門
chū mén
to go out · to leave the house · to go away from home

Meaning

出门 literally means 'to exit the door' and refers to leaving one's home or residence to go somewhere. It's a common everyday verb used when talking about leaving the house for any purpose, whether running errands, going to work, or traveling.

Usage

Native speakers use 出门 in casual daily conversation when referring to the act of leaving home. It often appears with time expressions (出门前 'before leaving') or in phrases about preparing to go out. The opposite action of returning home is 回家. It's neutral in register and appropriate for all contexts.

Examples

  1. 01
    我每天早上七点出门
    měi tiān zǎoshang diǎn chū mén.
    I leave the house at 7 o'clock every morning.
  2. 02
    出门前别忘了带钥匙。
    Chū mén qián bié wàng le dài yàoshi.
    Don't forget to bring your keys before you go out.

Characters

Common collocations

  • 出门
    chū mén qián
    before going out
  • 出门在外
    chū mén zài wài
    to be away from home
  • 出门
    gāng chū mén
    just left the house
  • 准备出门
    zhǔnbèi chū mén
    to prepare to go out

Antonyms

Origin

The word combines 出 (to exit) with 门 (door), creating a transparent compound that literally means 'to go out through the door.'

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