Combining them gives you 留 (liú) + 学 (xué) + 生 (shēng) — a person who stays abroad to study, i.e., an international student. The logic is direct and easy to remember.
In China, the concept of being a 留学生 holds significant cultural weight, often more so than the term “international student” does in the West. For decades, studying abroad was seen as a golden ticket to a better future. It represented access to world-class education, advanced language skills, and global perspectives. Consequently, a 留学生, especially a Chinese national who managed to study overseas, was viewed with a high degree of respect and admiration. This path was often associated with ambition, intelligence, and a family's ability to invest heavily in their child's education. This contrasts with the Western perspective where “international student” is often just a demographic or administrative category. In China, it's tied to deep-seated cultural values like the paramount importance of 教育 (jiàoyù - education) and the hope that these students will bring back valuable knowledge to contribute to the nation's development. This is so prevalent that a special term, 海归 (hǎiguī), or “sea turtle,” was coined for students returning to China after studying abroad, highlighting their unique and often prestigious status. While the number of 留学生 has skyrocketed, making it more common, the term still carries positive connotations of being worldly, capable, and well-educated.
留学生 is a standard, neutral term used in everyday conversation, media, and academic settings. The meaning is determined entirely by context.