老外

lǎowài

noun #32,705

Measure Word

一个老外 gè

Meanings

1 foreigner (usually non-Asian)
2 outsider; amateur (figurative)

Characters

old (familiar prefix)

outside, foreign

Examples

HSK 2

这条街上经常能看到老外。

Zhè tiáo jiē shàng jīngcháng néng kàndào lǎowài.

You often see foreigners on this street.

HSK 2

那个老外中文说得比我还好。

Nà ge lǎowài Zhōngwén shuō de bǐ wǒ hái hǎo.

That foreigner speaks Chinese better than I do.

HSK 6

这些修车的活我完全是老外。

Zhèxiē xiūchē de huó wǒ wánquán shì lǎowài.

When it comes to car repair I'm a complete amateur.

Tips

register

Everyday and generally friendly despite the literal 'old outsider'. The more formal term is 外国人. Most Chinese speakers find 老外 neutral; a minority of foreigners find it othering.

Stroke Order

老 lǎo

外 wài