Meaning of 外文
Definitions from CC-CEDICT.
- foreign language (written)
How to use 外文
外文 is a general word for any foreign language, and it often points to written material such as books, signs, or documents. It also appears in names like 外文书店 (wàiwén shūdiàn), a foreign language bookstore. Example: 他会看外文书。(Tā huì kàn wàiwén shū.) He can read books in foreign languages.
外 (wài) means outside and 文 (wén) means writing or language, so 外文 is writing from outside your own country. Think of it as the opposite of 中文 (Zhōngwén), the Chinese language.
Common mistake: Learners often use 外文 when talking about speaking ability, but 外语 (wàiyǔ) is more natural for spoken language, as in 说外语 (shuō wàiyǔ), to speak a foreign language. Also keep 外 in the fourth tone, wài, not wǎi.
外文 in example sentences
Real sentences from the Tatoeba project, with pinyin and English.
Stroke order for each character
Open a character for its meaning, components and more words.
外 wài · outside · 5 strokes
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
- 5
文 wén · language · 4 strokes
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
Related words
Words that share a character with 外文.
| 外国 | wàiguó | foreign country |
| 国外 | guó wài | abroad; external (affairs) |
| 外边 | wàibian | outside; outer surface |
| 中文 | Zhōngwén | Chinese language |
| 外语 | wàiyǔ | foreign language |
| 课文 | kèwén | text |
| 以外 | yǐwài | apart from; other than |
| 英文 | Yīngwén | English (language) |
| 外卖 | wàimài | (of a restaurant) to provide a takeout or home delivery meal; takeout (business) |
| 外地 | wàidì | parts of the country other than where one is |
| 作文 | zuòwén | to write an essay; composition (student essay) |
| 外面 | wàimiàn | outside (also pr. [wai4 mian5] for this sense); surface |
Questions about 外文
What does 外文 mean?
外文 (wàiwén) means "foreign language (written)" and is used as a noun.
How do you write 外文?
外文 is made of 2 characters: 外 (5 strokes), 文 (4 strokes). That is 9 strokes in total.
Is 外文 an HSK word?
Yes. 外文 is on the HSK 3 vocabulary list of the HSK 3.0 standard.
What is the difference between 外文 and 外语?
Both mean foreign language. 外文 leans toward the written side, such as texts and literature, while 外语 leans toward the language as something you speak and study. In many everyday sentences they can be swapped, but 学外语 (xué wàiyǔ) is the most common way to say you study a foreign language.
Does 外文 mean English specifically?
No. 外文 means any foreign language, not only English. To name English directly, say 英文 (Yīngwén) or 英语 (Yīngyǔ).