外史

wàishǐ

noun

Meanings

1 unofficial history
2 Outer Scribe, a Zhou court office in charge of books and records

Characters

outside; unofficial

history; scribe

Examples

HSK 7-9

这本外史记载了很多正史中没有的民间故事。

Zhè běn wàishǐ jìzǎi le hěnduō zhèngshǐ zhōng méiyou de mínjiān gùshi.

This unofficial history records many folk stories missing from the official histories.

HSK 7-9

据《周礼》记载，外史负责掌管三皇五帝的典籍。

Jù 《 Zhōulǐ 》 jìzǎi, wàishǐ fùzé zhǎngguǎn sānhuáng-wǔdì de diǎnjí.

According to the Rites of Zhou, the Outer Scribe was in charge of the records of the Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors.

Tips

usage

In book titles 外史 marks an unofficial or fictional history, as in 《儒林外史》 (The Scholars). Its opposite is 正史, the official dynastic histories; 野史 is a near-synonym.

Stroke Order

外 wài

史 shǐ