老外

Mandarin

Etymology

老 (lǎo, "always") + 外 (wài, "foreign")

Noun

老外 (traditional and simplified, Pinyin lǎowài)

1. (colloquial) foreigner
2. (figuratively) a Chinese person who acts western or does not understand a specific topic related to Chinese culture

Usage notes

Using the term to refer to foreigners is controversial and may be perceived as exclusionist. It is usually not dergoatory.

Synonyms

• (foreigner): 鬼佬 (Cantonese: gweilo), 外國人 (simplified: 外国人, wàiguórén, “foreigner”)

See also

• (foreigner): waiguoren, wàiguórén
• (a Chinese person who acts western): banana

• “Laowai” in Wikipedia.