外 wài — out · English

外

wài

out

At a glance · 外

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Evolution of the glyph

Five stages, from a sketch of the real object to regular script — tap a stage, drag the timeline, or play the animation.

Object sketchBefore writing · drawing what was seen
Oracle boneShang dynasty · c. 1300–1046 BCE
Seal scriptQin dynasty · 221–206 BCE
Clerical scriptHan dynasty · 206 BCE–220 CE
Regular scriptWei–Jin to Tang · c. 3rd–9th century CE

Object sketchBefore writing · drawing what was seenOracle boneShang dynasty · c. 1300–1046 BCESeal scriptQin dynasty · 221–206 BCEClerical scriptHan dynasty · 206 BCE–220 CERegular scriptWei–Jin to Tang · c. 3rd–9th century CE

⚠ Some ancient forms are not attested：oracle bone form。No excavated oracle bone / seal artifact is attested for this character yet; we leave it blank rather than fabricate.

「外」从夕从卜，金文象占卜于门外，会外之意。

What the sketch shows

Origins & notes

「外」本义为外面、外部，引申外国、此外。

Structure

从夕、从卜，会意字，卜于门夕之外，本为内外之外。

At a glance

Pinyinwài

Radical夕

Strokes5

UnicodeU+5916

Character type会意

Theme数术

Six languages, one character

Each page offers hreflang versions; switching language keeps the glyphs and meanings aligned.

English out out, outside, external; foreign

Français dehors / extérieur Dehors, extérieur. «外受傅训» : au-dehors, recevoir l'instruction.

Español fuera / exterior Fuera, exterior. «外受傅训»: afuera, recibir la instrucción.

العربية خارج / دون خارج، دون. «外受傅训»: في الخارج يقبل التعليم.

Русский вне / наружный Вне, наружный. «外受傅训»: вне дома получать наставление.

Common words

外面wài miànoutside
外国wài guóforeign

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