郊外

jiāowài

noun HSK 7-9 #12,398

Meanings

1 outskirts
2 suburbs
3 countryside (near a city)

Characters

suburb; outskirts

Literally 'outside the suburbs' — the countryside surrounding a city

Examples

周末我们去郊外野餐了。

Zhōumò wǒmen qù jiāowài yěcān le.

We went to the outskirts for a picnic on the weekend.

他住在城市的郊外。

Tā zhù zài chéngshì de jiāowài.

He lives on the outskirts of the city.

Tips

usage

郊外 refers to the area just outside a city, often implying nature and fresh air. It's where people go for day trips. Compare with 郊区 (jiāoqū), which is a more administrative term for 'suburban district'.

Stroke Order

郊 jiāo

外 wài