關於

Laowai (老外) is a colloquial Chinese term for “foreigner.”

Composed of 老 (lǎo), meaning “old,” and 外 (wài), meaning “outside”, it literally translates to “old outsider.”

It is widely used in everyday speech. However, it is not a formal or legal term. It is used informally, and whether it feels friendly or alienating depends entirely on the speaker’s tone and the situation in which it is used.

The word itself is a contradiction. The 老 (lǎo) can imply familiarity, like calling someone an “old hand.” But the 外 (wài) firmly labels the person as an “outsider.”