Combining them, `外-地-人 (wài-dì-rén)` literally translates to “outside-place-person,” a very logical construction for someone who is not from the local area.
The term `外地人` cannot be fully understood without knowing about the 户口 (hùkǒu), or household registration system. This system, established in the 1950s, registers every citizen to a specific location (usually their parent's hometown). For decades, it strictly controlled internal migration. While rules have relaxed, your `hukou` still determines your access to social services like public education, healthcare, and property ownership in a given city. Because of this, a `外地人` living and working in a major city like Shanghai or Shenzhen may contribute to the economy for years but still face significant barriers. Their children might not be able to attend local public schools, or they might have to pay much higher fees. This creates a clear social and administrative distinction between a `本地人 (běndìrén)` (a local) and a `外地人`. Comparison to Western Culture: In the US, someone from Ohio moving to California might be called a “transplant” or “out-of-stater,” but this is a purely social label with no legal or administrative weight. They can vote, buy a house, and send their kids to public school immediately. The term `外地人` carries the weight of this systemic difference. It's a social label born from a bureaucratic reality, which makes the in-group/out-group feeling much stronger and more consequential than simple regional pride in the West.
The connotation of `外地人` is highly dependent on context and tone.
It's a very common word, but using it to label someone directly can sometimes be insensitive. It's generally more polite to ask “你是哪里人？” (Nǐ shì nǎlǐ rén? - Where are you from?).