Location Word: 外 (wài) - Outside

In English, we say "outside the house." The word "outside" comes first. In Chinese, the order flips. You say "house outside." Think of it as zooming in. First, you identify the big container (the house). Then, you specify the area (the outside). You can use 外 by itself in some fixed phrases. However, in daily speech, you usually see it as 外面 (wài miàn) or 外边 (wài biān). These two are almost identical. 外面 is slightly more common in the north. 外边 is used everywhere else. They both turn the concept of "outside" into a proper noun of locality. It is like adding a "side" or "face" to the direction.

1. 1Using 外 is a step-by-step process. Follow these steps to build your sentences correctly:
2. 2Pick your reference noun (e.g., 学校 xué xiào - school).
3. 3Add the location word (外, 外面, or 外边).
4. 4(Optional) Add 的 (de) between the noun and the location word for emphasis.
5. 5Place this whole phrase after a verb like 在 (zài - to be at).
6. 6Structure: [Noun] + (的) + 外面 / 外边 / 外
7. 7Example: 学校外面 (Outside the school).
8. 8Example with verb: 我在学校外面 (I am outside the school).

Use 外 whenever you need to describe a physical boundary. Are you standing on the street while your friend is in the cafe? You are 外面. Are you talking about things happening outside of a specific building? Use 外.

• Physical Locations: Use it for buildings, boxes, or rooms. 盒子外面 (Outside the box).
• Fixed Phrases: Some words combine with 外 directly. 国外 (guó wài) means "abroad" or "outside the country." 校外 (xiào wài) means "off-campus."
• The "Besides" Structure: You will often see 除了...以外 (chú le... yǐ wài). This means "besides" or "except for." It is a very common A2 pattern.
• Ordering Food: Sometimes you want to eat "outside" at a restaurant. You can ask to sit 外面.

Don't use 外 when you are talking about the "exterior" as an adjective for a person's character. Chinese uses different words for "outgoing" or "extroverted" (like 外向). Also, avoid using 外 alone if the noun before it has two or more syllables, unless it is a fixed phrase. For example, 办公室外 is okay in writing, but in speaking, you should say 办公室外面. Do not use 外 if you are already inside the destination. If you are in the garden of a house, you are still "at the house," not "outside" it.

One big mistake is the "English Brain" trap. Do not say 外面学校. This sounds like "the outside's school." Always put the location word last. Another mistake is forgetting that 外 needs a partner like 面 or 边 in casual conversation. Saying just 我在屋外 sounds a bit like a poem or a formal report. If you are just texting a friend, stick to 屋子外面. Finally, watch out for 国外. People often try to say 中国外. While technically okay, Chinese people almost always say 国外 or 外国 to mean anywhere outside of China. It is like a grammar traffic light; if it feels too clunky, you might be over-complicating it.

How does 外 compare to 里 (lǐ)? They are polar opposites. 里 means inside. If 外 is the yard, 里 is the living room.

What about 外 vs. 以外?

• 外 is purely about location.
• 以外 is often used for boundaries or exceptions.

Think of 外面 as a physical space you can stand in. Think of 以外 as a logical fence. If you say "Everyone 以外 me is tall," you are using it as a logical boundary. If you say "I am standing 外面," you are talking about your physical feet on the ground.