foreigner; Westerner
Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma
Meanings
1 sense · 4 examplesnoun
foreigner; Westerner; Occidental
Historically used in China to refer specifically to Westerners (Europeans and Americans), often carrying connotations of the colonial era. In modern usage, it can sound somewhat dated or informal compared to 外国人 or 老外.
Shí十
jiǔ九
shì世
jì纪
，
xǔ许
duō多
yáng洋
rén人
lái来
Zhōng中
guó国
zuò做
shēng生
yì意
。
In the nineteenth century, many Westerners came to China to do business.
Zài在
nà那
ge个
nián年
dài代
，
yáng洋
rén人
bèi被
kàn看
zuò作
shì是
wài外
lái来
zhě者
。
In those days, foreigners were regarded as outsiders.
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Tā他
zhǎng长
de得
xiàng像
yáng洋
rén人
，
qí其
shí实
shì是
Zhōng中
guó国
rén人
。
He looks like a Westerner, but he is actually Chinese.
Lǎo老
Shàng上
hǎi海
yǒu有
hěn很
duō多
yáng洋
fáng房
shì是
yǐ以
qián前
yáng洋
rén人
zhù住
de的
。
Old Shanghai has many Western-style houses that were formerly occupied by foreigners.