外

Etymology & Components

The Chinese character 外 (wài) is composed of two parts: the radical 阜 (fù), which means "mound" or "hill", and the phonetic component 圭 (guī), which is a pictograph of a jade tablet. The original meaning of 外 was "outside" or "beyond", which is still its primary meaning today. However, 外 can also be used in a more abstract sense to mean "foreign" or "external".The character 外 has a long history, dating back to the Shang dynasty (c. 1600-1046 BC). It was originally written as 韦, which was a pictograph of a person standing outside a house. Over time, the character evolved into its current form.The character 外 is used in a variety of Chinese words and phrases. Some common examples include:* 外面 (wàimiàn): outside* 外国 (wàiguó): foreign country* 外语 (wàiyǔ): foreign language* 外交 (wàijiāo): diplomacy* 外贸 (wàimào): foreign tradeThe character 外 is also used in many Chinese idioms and proverbs. Some common examples include:* 画龙点睛 (huàlóngdiǎnjīng): to add the finishing touch* 塞翁失马，焉知非福 (sàiwēngshīmǎ, yānzhīfēifú): misfortune may be a blessing in disguise* 近朱者赤，近墨者黑 (jìnzhūzhěchì, jìnmòzhěhēi): you become like the people you spend time withThe character 外 is a versatile and important character in the Chinese language. It is used in a wide variety of words and phrases, and it can also be used to express abstract concepts. By understanding the etymology of 外, you can gain a deeper understanding of the Chinese language and culture.