April 12, 2023
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.
The Origin of 老外
In Chinathe past, people in China rarely seeaw people who are from other countries, even in those big cities in the past.
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.
老外 is a short mark fornickname that Chinese people to addressuse for people who are from wWestern 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).
Feedback
I know that some ignorant Westerners don’t like the term 老外 because they’ve been told it means they look old. This is silly and betrays a poor understanding of the Chinese language.
I dislike the term 老外 because:
1) It implies that all Westerners are the same and are familiar to the speaker, as if the Chinese person “knows” all Westerners. It’s kind of like saying, “If you’ve met one Westerner, you’ve met them all.” Sometimes I feel like telling them, “We’re actually very different from each other, if you get to know us. But since you haven’t bothered to get to know us, what right do you have to call us “老”, as if we’re your old friends?”
2) The 外 in 老外 is a subtle reminder that I will always be considered an “outsider” in China, no matter how long I’ve lived there and how well I speak Chinese. Living in a foreign country is lonely enough without being constantly called an outsider and reminded that you don’t really “belong” there. Most Chinese people would probably tell me, “Well you’re a foreigner, so of course you don’t belong here!” But I come from a nation of immigrants that has welcomed millions of Chinese people and considers them “Americans,” so it’s hard to accept that Chinese society isn’t very welcoming of outsiders.
Nevertheless, when I’m conversing in Chinese, I often unconsciously refer to myself as “老外”, which sometimes makes the Chinese listener smile or even laugh. But when I call a Chinese person in the US a 老外 or 老华, they never seem to like it. If 老外 is such a “nice” term as you describe, why don’t Chinese people use it for themselves when they’re living in the US? Funnily enough, many Chinese immigrants still call Americans 老外, even though the immigrants themselves are the foreigners. 🤣
April 21, 2023
中国人在美国也称美国人是老外，这个很有意思，哈哈。
In China, peopleIt is rarely to see people who are from other countries, even in those big cities inof the past.
It sounds more natural this way.
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"
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.
I understood what you meant and rewrote it in a more natural way.
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. It's not offensive.
April 14, 2023
Thank you very much.
In China, people rarely see people who are from other countries, even in those big cities in the past.
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.
老外 is a short markhand for Chinese people to address people who are from western countries.
It’s just a kindn endearing and casual addressterm used by Chinese people, not anything offensive.
April 14, 2023
Thank you very much.
The Origin of 老外
In China, people rarely seeaw people who are from other countries, even in those 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"
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.
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.
to short the sentence you could say "But Chinese people can't distinguish which countries they are from..."
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 anything offensive.
Feedback
Great writing and very interesting! :)
April 14, 2023
Thank you very much.
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The Origin of 老外 This sentence has been marked as perfect! This sentence has been marked as perfect! |
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In China, people rarely see people who are from other countries, even in those big cities in the past. In China, people rarely s 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 In China, It sounds more natural this way. In 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. |
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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 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" |
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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 com to short the sentence you could say "But Chinese people can't distinguish which countries they are from..."
I understood what you meant and rewrote it in a more natural way. |
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However, what should Chinese people call them? This sentence has been marked as perfect! This sentence has been marked as perfect! |
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Chinese people only know that they are 外国人. This sentence has been marked as perfect! This sentence has been marked as perfect! |
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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! |
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(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! |
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That is the origin of the term 老外. This sentence has been marked as perfect! This sentence has been marked as perfect! |
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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 This sentence has been marked as perfect! 老外 is a 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). |
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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 It’s just a kind and casual address used by Chinese people |
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