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    Chinese Grammar

    Expressing "outside" with 外 (wài)

    Location & Position

    Structure

    Place Noun + 外

    Explanation

    外 (wài) means "outside" or "beyond" and is used as a postposition placed after a noun to indicate a location outside of something. For example, 学校外 means "outside the school." It is the opposite of 内 or 里 (inside).

    Examples

    • 学校外有一家很好吃的面馆。

      Xuéxiào wài yǒu yì jiā hěn hǎochī de miànguǎn.

      There is a very delicious noodle restaurant outside the school.

    • 窗户外下着大雨,我们出不去了。

      Chuānghù wài xià zhe dàyǔ, wǒmen chū bù qù le.

      It's raining heavily outside the window; we can't go out.

    • 公司外停了好多车,都是来面试的人。

      Gōngsī wài tíng le hǎo duō chē, dōu shì lái miànshì de rén.

      There are many cars parked outside the company; they all belong to people here for interviews.

    Expressing "outside" with 外 (wài) | Chinese Grammar