Jack's avatar
Jack

April 12, 2023

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The Origin of 老外

In China, people rarely see people who are from other countries, even in those big cities in the past.

If other Asians come to China, Chinese people don’t even know that they are from other countries because Asian people almost have the same face as Chinese people.

Only people who are from western countries come to China, that Chinese people know that they are from other countries, but Chinese people don’t know which countries they are from, so Chinese people can’t call them Americans, British, etc.

However, what should Chinese people call them? Chinese people only know that they are 外国人.

In addition, Chinese people have a tradition of addressing people 老张,老李 in a very casual way. (张 and 李 are their family names.) so Chinese people use 外 to represent 外国人, and add a 老 before 外 according to Chinese tradition.

That is the origin of the term 老外. 老外 is a short mark for Chinese people to address people who are from western countries.

It’s just a kind and casual address used by Chinese people, not any offensive.

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The Origin of 老外

Jack's avatar
Jack

April 21, 2023

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However, what should Chinese people call them?

Chinese people only know that they are 外国人.

In addition, Chinese people have a tradition of addressing people 老张,老李 in a very casual way.

(张 and 李 are their family names.) so Chinese people use 外 to represent 外国人, and add a 老 before 外 according to Chinese tradition.

That is the origin of the term 老外.

老外 is a short mark for Chinese people to address people who are from western countries.

Jack's avatar
Jack

April 14, 2023

0

Jack's avatar
Jack

April 14, 2023

0

The Origin of 老外

However, what should Chinese people call them?

Chinese people only know that they are 外国人.

In addition, Chinese people have a tradition of addressing people 老张,老李 in a very casual way.

(张 and 李 are their family names.) so Chinese people use 外 to represent 外国人, and add a 老 before 外 according to Chinese tradition.

That is the origin of the term 老外.

老外 is a short mark for Chinese people to address people who are from western countries.

Jack's avatar
Jack

April 14, 2023

0

The Origin of 老外


This sentence has been marked as perfect!

This sentence has been marked as perfect!

In China, people rarely see people who are from other countries, even in those big cities in the past.


In China, people rarely seeaw people who are from other countries, even in those big cities in the past. In China, people rarely saw people who are from other countries, even in big cities in the past.

Since you say "in the past" it should be "saw" which is the past tense of "see" Instead of repeating "people" you could say "saw others who..." "Those" doesn't sound correct but you could say "even in the biggest cities"

In China, people rarely see people who are from other countries, even in those big cities in the past. In China, people rarely see people who are from other countries, even in big cities.

In China, peopleIt is rarely to see people who are from other countries, even in those big cities inof the past. In China, It is rare to see people who are from other countries, even in the big cities of the past.

It sounds more natural this way.

In Chinathe past, people in China rarely seeaw people who are from other countries, even in those big cities in the past. In the past, people in China rarely saw people from other countries, even in big cities.

Since you’re describing the past, you need to change most of the sentences in this post to past tense. Present tense doesn’t make sense.

If other Asians come to China, Chinese people don’t even know that they are from other countries because Asian people almost have the same face as Chinese people.


If other Asians come to China, Chinese people don’t even know that they are from other countries because Asian people almost have the same face ashave very similar facial features to Chinese people. If other Asians come to China, Chinese people don’t even know that they are from other countries because Asian people have very similar facial features to Chinese people.

If other Asians come to China, Chinese people don’t even know that they are from other countries because Asian people almost have the same face as Chinese people. If other Asians come to China, Chinese people don’t even know that they are from other countries because Asian people almost have the same face as Chinese people.

There is nothing wrong with saying "have the same face as" but it would sound more natural to say "look like"

Only people who are from western countries come to China, that Chinese people know that they are from other countries, but Chinese people don’t know which countries they are from, so Chinese people can’t call them Americans, British, etc.


Only the people who are from western countries comeing to China, are the ones that Chinese people know that they are from other countries, b. But Chinese people don’t know which countries they are from, so Chinese people can’t call them Americans, British, etc. Only the people who are from western countries coming to China are the ones that Chinese people know are from other countries. But Chinese people don’t know which countries they are from, so Chinese people can’t call them Americans, British, etc.

to short the sentence you could say "But Chinese people can't distinguish which countries they are from..."

Only people who are from western countries come to China, that Chinese people know that theyVisitors that Chinese people can tell are from other countries are from othwestern countries, but Chinese people don’t knowcan't tell which countries they are from, so Chinese people can’and so they don't call them Americans, British, etc. Visitors that Chinese people can tell are from other countries are from western countries, but Chinese people can't tell which countries they are from, and so they don't call them Americans, British, etc.

OnlyChinese people who are from western countries come to China, that Chinese people know thatonly know that people are foreigners if they arcome from other countries, butWestern Countries. However, Chinese people don't know which countriesy they are from, so Chinese people can’don't call them Americans, British, etc. Chinese people only know that people are foreigners if they come from Western Countries. However, Chinese people don't know which country they are from, so Chinese people don't call them Americans, British, etc.

I understood what you meant and rewrote it in a more natural way.

However, what should Chinese people call them?


This sentence has been marked as perfect!

This sentence has been marked as perfect!

Chinese people only know that they are 外国人.


This sentence has been marked as perfect!

This sentence has been marked as perfect!

In addition, Chinese people have a tradition of addressing people 老张,老李 in a very casual way.


This sentence has been marked as perfect!

This sentence has been marked as perfect!

(张 and 李 are their family names.) so Chinese people use 外 to represent 外国人, and add a 老 before 外 according to Chinese tradition.


This sentence has been marked as perfect!

This sentence has been marked as perfect!

That is the origin of the term 老外.


This sentence has been marked as perfect!

This sentence has been marked as perfect!

老外 is a short mark for Chinese people to address people who are from western countries.


This sentence has been marked as perfect!

老外 is a short markhand for Chinese people to address people who are from western countries. 老外 is shorthand for Chinese people to address people who are from western countries.

This sentence has been marked as perfect!

老外 is a short mark fornickname that Chinese people to addressuse for people who are from wWestern countries. 老外 is a nickname that Chinese people use for people who are from Western countries.

I’ve never heard of the term “short mark” before, and can’t find it in my dictionaries. “To address someone” means to speak TO someone. You mean they “call” Westerners “老外”. Capitalize “Western” because it refers to “the West,” not to the the direction on a compass (some countries of the West, such as Canada and the US, are actually closer to the eastern border of China than to its western side, obviously).

It’s just a kind and casual address used by Chinese people, not any offensive.


It’s just a kind and casual address used by Chinese people, not anything offensive. It’s just a kind and casual address used by Chinese people, not anything offensive.

It’s just a kindn endearing and casual addressterm used by Chinese people, not anything offensive. It’s just an endearing and casual term used by Chinese people, not anything offensive.

It’s just a kind and casual address used by Chinese people, not any. It's not offensive. It’s just a kind and casual address used by Chinese people. It's not offensive.

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