lǎowài

老外

Word · Noun

layman; foreigner

Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma

Meanings

2 senses · 7 examples
1.

noun

layman; amateur; someone not proficient in a field

informal

Used colloquially to refer to someone who is an outsider or inexperienced in a specific area. Tone is informal and can be friendly or mildly teasing.

Wǒ我
duì对
diàn电
nǎo脑
wéi维
xiū修
wán完
quán全
shì是
gè个
lǎo老
wài外
 ,
yī一
diǎn点
bù不
dǒng懂
 。

I'm a complete layman when it comes to computer repair; I don't understand a thing.

Yī一
kàn看
nǐ你
zhè这
dǎ打
qiú球
de的
jià架
shi式
 ,
jiù就
zhī知
dào道
nǐ你
shì是
gè个
lǎo老
wài外
 。

Just looking at how you hold yourself to play ball, I can tell you're an amateur.

Show 1 more example
Zài在
tóu投
zī资
zhè这
jiàn件
shì事
shàng上
 ,
wǒ我
kě可
bù不
xiǎng想
dāng当
lǎo老
wài外
 。

I really don't want to be a novice when it comes to investing.

2.

noun

foreigner; non-Chinese person

informal

A very common colloquial and somewhat humorous term for foreigners. While often used neutrally or affectionately, context is key as it can sometimes be perceived as overly casual or slightly othering. Not appropriate for formal contexts.

Wǒ我
men们
hú胡
tòng同
lǐ里
xīn新
bān搬
lái来
yī一
gè个
lǎo老
wài外
 ,
zhōng中
wén文
shuō说
de得
kě可
hǎo好
le了
 。

A foreigner just moved into our alley, and his Chinese is really good.

Nà那
gè个
lǎo老
wài外
jū居
rán然
huì会
yòng用
kuài筷
zi子
chī吃
jiǎo饺
zi子
 ,
zhēn真
lì厉
hai害
 !

That foreigner can actually use chopsticks to eat dumplings, impressive!

Show 2 more examples
Tā他
suī虽
rán然
shì是
lǎo老
wài外
 ,
dàn但
duì对
zhōng中
guó国
wén文
huà化
liǎo了
jiě解
hěn很
shēn深
 。

Even though he's a foreigner, he has a deep understanding of Chinese culture.

Bié别
kàn看
tā他
shì是
gè个
lǎo老
wài外
 ,
chī吃
là辣
bǐ比
wǒ我
hái还
lì厉
hai害
 。

Don't be fooled just because he's a foreigner; he can handle spicy food better than I can.