noun / adjective / prefix HSK 1
outside · outer · external · foreign
Meaning
外 is a fundamental word meaning 'outside' or 'external'. It appears in countless compounds to indicate something that is exterior, foreign, or unrelated to a core group. As a standalone word, it refers to the outside or exterior of something.
Usage
外 is extremely common in compounds like 外国 (foreign country), 外面 (outside), 外语 (foreign language), and 外婆 (maternal grandmother, literally 'outside grandmother' as she's from outside the patrilineal family). Used independently, it often contrasts with 内 (inside). It's neutral in register and appears in all contexts.
Examples
- 01外面下雨了。.It's raining outside.
- 02他在外国工作。.He works in a foreign country.
Common collocations
- 外面outside
- 外国人foreigner
- 外出to go out
- 意外unexpected, accident
Antonyms
Origin
The character 外 originally depicted divination cracks on oracle bones that extended outward, suggesting something extending beyond boundaries or going outside.