外 (wài) - Meaning, Stroke Order, Words & Examples

Q: What does 外 (wài) mean in Chinese?

The Chinese character 外 (wài) means "outside / foreign / external". It is an HSK Level 1 character, with 5 strokes and the radical 夕.

Q: How do you write 外 stroke by stroke?

外 has 5 strokes. The radical is 夕. Follow the standard stroke order: top to bottom, left to right, outside before inside. Practice with stroke animation to build muscle memory.

Q: What's the difference between 外 and 夃?

外 (wài) and 夃 look similar but differ in meaning and usage. Check the radical and stroke count to tell them apart.

Q: What mistakes do learners make writing 外?

Common mistake: incorrect stroke order or miswriting the radical 夕. Pay attention to the proportion between components — keep the radical compact.

Q: What common words use 外?

Common words containing 外 include: 外国 (wài guó) — foreign country; 外面 (wài miàn) — outside; 意外 (yì wài) — accident / unexpected.

How to Write 外

The character 外 (wài) is written with 5 strokes. Follow the standard Chinese stroke order: top to bottom, left to right, outside before inside. The radical 夕 is one of its key components.

Practice the correct stroke order with the Hanzi Writer app to see animated stroke-by-stroke guidance with real-time feedback.

Meaning & Pronunciation

外 is pronounced wài in Mandarin Chinese. It means outside / foreign / external.

As an HSK Level 1 character, 外 is among the first characters beginners learn.

Common Words with 外

外国 wài guó

foreign country

外面 wài miàn

outside

意外 yì wài

accident / unexpected

Example Sentences

他想去外国旅游。

tā xiǎng qù wài guó lǚ yóu

He wants to travel abroad.

外面正在下大雪。

wài miàn zhèng zài xià dà xuě

It is snowing heavily outside.

这是一个小意外。

zhè shì yí gè xiǎo yì wài

This is a small accident.

Similar Characters

夃 gǔ

夅 jiàng

夕 xī

Practice Writing 外 (wài)

Open Hanzi Writer to see the animated stroke order and practice writing 外 with real-time feedback.

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Frequently Asked Questions about 外

What does 外 (wài) mean in Chinese?

How do you write 外 stroke by stroke?

What's the difference between 外 and 夃?

What mistakes do learners make writing 外?

What common words use 外?

How to Write 外 (wài)