wàiguó: 外国 - Foreign Country, Abroad

• Keywords: waiguo, 外国, foreign country in Chinese, how to say foreign in Chinese, Chinese word for abroad, wàiguó rén, foreigner in Chinese, international, overseas in Chinese.
• Summary: 外国 (wàiguó) is the essential Chinese word for “foreign country” or “abroad.” This fundamental term, literally meaning “outside country,” is used to describe people, products, and cultures from anywhere outside of China. This guide provides a deep dive into its meaning, cultural significance, and practical usage with example sentences, helping you confidently discuss the world beyond China's borders.

• Pinyin (with tone marks): wài guó
• Part of Speech: Noun (often used adjectivally)
• HSK Level: HSK 2
• Concise Definition: A country other than one's own; a foreign country.
• In a Nutshell: “外国” is the most direct and common way to say “foreign country.” It's a neutral, everyday term built from two simple characters: “outside” (外) and “country” (国). Whether you're talking about foreign films, traveling abroad, or a friend from another nation, this is the foundational word you'll need.

• 外 (wài): This character means “outside,” “outer,” or “external.” It's the opposite of 内 (nèi), which means “inside.”
• 国 (guó): This character means “country” or “nation.” The modern character has a boundary (囗) around the character for jade (玉), symbolizing a protected and precious territory.
• Together, 外国 (wàiguó) literally and logically means “outside country”—any nation external to one's own.

The term 外国 is deeply rooted in the Chinese worldview. Historically, China referred to itself as 中国 (Zhōngguó), the “Middle Kingdom,” implying it was the center of the civilized world. Consequently, all other nations were “outside countries.” While this “Sino-centric” view is a thing of the past, the language reflects this structure. Unlike the English word “foreign,” which can sometimes carry a sense of being strange or alien, 外国 is a much more neutral, geographical descriptor. It simply states that something or someone is not from China. It's a statement of fact, not a judgment. A useful comparison is to the term “international.” While 国际 (guójì) means “international” and implies cooperation and connection between nations, 外国 simply refers to the existence of nations outside of one's own. For a beginner, understanding this distinction helps clarify why 外国 is used to describe a “foreign movie,” while you would use 国际 for “international relations.”

外国 is an extremely common and versatile word used in all contexts, from casual chat to formal news reports.

• Describing Places and Travel: It's the general term for “abroad” when talking about travel.
  • “I want to go to a foreign country.” (我想去外国。)
• Describing People: When combined with 人 (rén), it becomes 外国人 (wàiguó rén), the standard word for “foreigner.”
  • “He is a foreigner.” (他是外国人。)
• Describing Objects and Concepts: It acts as an adjective to describe anything originating from outside China.
  • “foreign language” (外国语言)
  • “foreign brand” (外国品牌)
  • “foreign culture” (外国文化)

The term is neutral in connotation and can be used in any situation without causing offense. It is the default, correct term to use.

• Example 1:
  • 他是从外国来的。
  • Pinyin: Tā shì cóng wàiguó lái de.
  • English: He is from a foreign country.
  • Analysis: A simple, common sentence for stating someone's origin. The structure 是…的 (shì…de) is used here to emphasize the origin.
• Example 2:
  • 我明年想去外国旅游。
  • Pinyin: Wǒ míngnián xiǎng qù wàiguó lǚyóu.
  • English: I want to travel to a foreign country next year.
  • Analysis: Here, 外国 functions as the destination. It's a general statement; the speaker hasn't specified which country.
• Example 3:
  • 你喜欢看外国电影吗？
  • Pinyin: Nǐ xǐhuān kàn wàiguó diànyǐng ma?
  • English: Do you like to watch foreign movies?
  • Analysis: 外国 acts as an adjective modifying “movies” (电影). This is a very common pattern.
• Example 4:
  • 这所大学有很多外国留学生。
  • Pinyin: Zhè suǒ dàxué yǒu hěnduō wàiguó liúxuéshēng.
  • English: This university has a lot of foreign exchange students.
  • Analysis: Again, 外国 modifies a noun, in this case, “exchange students” (留学生).
• Example 5:
  • 他会说好几种外国语言。
  • Pinyin: Tā huì shuō hǎojǐ zhǒng wàiguó yǔyán.
  • English: He can speak several foreign languages.
  • Analysis: A perfect example of how 外国 is used to describe concepts like “language.”
• Example 6:
  • 在上海，你可以买到很多外国货。
  • Pinyin: Zài Shànghǎi, nǐ kěyǐ mǎidào hěnduō wàiguó huò.
  • English: In Shanghai, you can buy a lot of foreign goods.
  • Analysis: 货 (huò) means goods or products. 外国货 is a common term for imported items.
• Example 7:
  • 学习外国历史很有意思。
  • Pinyin: Xuéxí wàiguó lìshǐ hěn yǒu yìsi.
  • English: Studying foreign history is very interesting.
  • Analysis: Shows the versatility of the word, applied here to an academic subject.
• Example 8:
  • 我的公司跟外国有很多生意往来。
  • Pinyin: Wǒ de gōngsī gēn wàiguó yǒu hěnduō shēngyì wǎnglái.
  • English: My company has a lot of business dealings with foreign countries.
  • Analysis: Here, 外国 is used as a collective noun representing all other countries in the context of business.
• Example 9:
  • 他对外国文化非常感兴趣。
  • Pinyin: Tā duì wàiguó wénhuà fēicháng gǎn xìngqù.
  • English: He is extremely interested in foreign cultures.
  • Analysis: The structure 对…感兴趣 (duì…gǎn xìngqù) means “to be interested in…”.
• Example 10:
  • 很多中国人现在都喜欢用外国品牌。
  • Pinyin: Hěnduō Zhōngguó rén xiànzài dōu xǐhuān yòng wàiguó pǐnpái.
  • English: Many Chinese people now like to use foreign brands.
  • Analysis: 品牌 (pǐnpái) means “brand.” This sentence reflects a common topic of conversation in modern China.

• Mistake: Using 外国 for a specific country.
  • A common error is to say, “I'm going to 外国.” when you mean a specific country like France. 外国 is a general category, not a specific place.
  • Incorrect: 我要去外国。(I'm going to a foreign country - vague)
  • Correct: 我要去法国。(Wǒ yào qù Fǎguó.) (I'm going to France.)
• Nuance: 外国 (wàiguó) vs. 国外 (guówài).
  • These two terms are very similar and often interchangeable, but there's a subtle difference.
  • 外国 (wàiguó): A noun meaning “a foreign country.” It emphasizes the place itself. (e.g., 美国是一个外国 - America is a foreign country.)
  • 国外 (guówài): Means “abroad” or “overseas” and often functions as a location word. It emphasizes the location relative to China. It's more common when describing an action taking place abroad. (e.g., 他在国外工作 - He works abroad.) For beginners, the difference is minor, but using 国外 for actions like “studying/working abroad” sounds slightly more natural.
• Nuance: Is 外国人 (wàiguó rén) rude?
  • No. 外国人 is the standard, neutral, and correct term for “foreigner.” It is not inherently rude. However, some foreigners who have lived in China for a long time might feel it creates a sense of distance. In casual conversation, especially with younger people, you may hear the slang term 老外 (lǎowài), which is usually friendly but can depend on tone. When in doubt, 外国人 is always the safe and appropriate choice.

• 外国人 (wàiguó rén) - The most direct and common word for “foreigner.”
• 国外 (guówài) - A very similar term meaning “abroad” or “overseas,” often used to describe the location of an action.
• 海外 (hǎiwài) - Literally “overseas.” Often used to refer to diasporic Chinese communities or business operations across the ocean.
• 国际 (guójì) - International. Refers to relationships and interactions between countries, not the countries themselves (e.g., international airport, international relations).
• 本国 (běnguó) - The direct antonym: “one's own country” or “native country.”
• 国内 (guónèi) - The antonym of 国外: “domestic” or “within the country.”
• 老外 (lǎowài) - A very common slang term for “foreigner.” It can be affectionate, neutral, or slightly pejorative depending on the context and tone.
• 洋 (yáng) - An older prefix meaning “ocean” or “foreign,” found in words like 洋人 (yángrén - foreigner, now dated) and 洋葱 (yángcōng - onion, lit. “foreign scallion”).
• 进口 (jìnkǒu) - To import; imported. Describes goods that come from a 外国.
• 世界 (shìjiè) - World. A broader term encompassing all countries, including one's own.