laowai

See also: lǎowài

English

Alternative forms

• lao-wai (Wade–Giles)
• Lao Wai

Etymology

From Mandarin 老外 (lǎowài, literally “old outside[r]”).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /laʊˈwaɪ/

Noun

laowai (plural laowais or laowai)

1. (colloquial) A foreigner in mainland China or Taiwan, (particularly) a Western one.

Synonyms

• See Thesaurus:white person

Related terms

• gweilo