Writing
外 (wài) — how to say "outside" in Chinese
外
Outside, external, other, foreign, outside
locative word
How to use it
Goes after the noun, not before it.
门外有人。
mén wài yǒu rén
There is someone outside the door.
Radicals / Keys
夕
Evening
#36 · xī · 3 strokes
Collocations
外国人
wài guó rén
foreigner
Examples
外面下雨，我们别出去。
It's raining outside, let's not go out.
外面很冷
It's cold outside.
Mnemonic
[wài-] Wyatt the explorer 🌍 stands outside with a giant 外 billboard, advertising a new "otherworldly" coffee blend. Everyone passing by thinks, "Is this some 外 external marketing for Wyatt's latest coffee adventure?"
Frequently asked questions
Outside in Chinese language
"outside" in Chinese is 外 (wài).
外 meaning in English
外 (wài) means "Outside, external, other, foreign, outside".
How is 外 pronounced?
It is pronounced wài (written as wai). You can listen to the pronunciation on this page.
How to write outside in Chinese?
It is written 外 and has 5 strokes. The Writing section above animates the stroke order and lets you trace it.
What HSK level is 外?
外 belongs to the HSK 2 vocabulary list.
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Grammar with 外
除了 — except, in addition
除了 (chúle) ⋯⋯ (+ 以外 (yǐwài))，Subj. + 都 (dōu) / 也 (yě) / 还 (hái) ⋯⋯
另外 — the other
另外 (lìngwài) + Number + Measure Word + Noun
另外 — in addition
⋯⋯，另外 (lìngwài)，⋯⋯
格外 — “especially”
格外 (géwài) + Adj. / Verb
以上 — at least, or more
Number + 以上 (yǐshàng) (≥) / 以下 (yǐxià) (≤) / 之内 (zhīnèi) (≤) / 之外 (zhīwài) (>)
不时 vs 仍旧 — still and from time to time
不时 (bùshí) + Verb — "from time to time"; 仍旧 (réngjiù) / 依旧 (yījiù) + Verb/Adj. — "still, as before"
More HSK 2 words
就
jiù
Immediately, exactly, then, and... (adverb)
上班
shàng bān
To go to work, to start work shift
为什么
wèi shénme
Why?
起床
qǐ chuáng
To get up from bed
离
lí
To leave, to be separated, to be a distance from...
介绍
jièshào
To introduce someone/something; to present
件
jiàn
(classifier for things, clothing, events)
公共
汽车
汽车
gōnggòng qìchē
Public bus