外 (wài)

Etymology

Phonosemantic compound. 卜 represents the meaning and 月 represents the sound.

Shuowen Jiezi

《說文》：“外，遠也。卜尚平旦，今夕卜，於事外矣。，古文外。”

Components

• 卜 (iconic) — Depicts the cracks on the outside of a turtle shell.
• 月 (sound) — Looks like 夕, which is also a pictograph of a moon.

Example sentences

1. 别见外。 — Don't be a stranger.
2. 那是例外。 — That's an exception.
3. 外面有雾。 — It's foggy out.
4. 我是外国人。 — I'm a foreigner.
5. 我没有外债。 — I am free of debt.

View all 50 example sentences for 外 →