外景 (wài jǐng) — outdoor scene (in film, photography, or theater… | TongTong Chinese Dictionary

Definition

Literally 'outer scene', used in film/photography for shots filmed outdoors (外景), as opposed to scenes shot in a studio. By extension, also means the exterior of a building.

noun

outdoor scene (in film, photography, or theater)exterior (of a building)

Examples

外景。
Zhè ge diàn yǐng de wài jǐng tè bié měi.
This movie's outdoor scenes are especially beautiful.
外景。
Zhè dòng dà lóu de wài jǐng shì bái sè de.
The exterior of this building is white.
。
Pāi wài jǐng de shí hou yào zhù yì guāng xiàn.
When shooting outdoor scenes, you need to pay attention to the lighting.

Origin

Compound word

构词法gòucífǎ

偏正piānzhèngModifier + head

The first part narrows down the second: it says what kind of thing the head is.

外wàioutside

外 points to outside and 景 means scene, so together they name an outdoor scene.

Characters in this word

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

Meaning part形符xíngfú

Sound part声符shēngfú

月

月yuè外wài

The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

外 pairs 卜 with 月, a crescent moon; in its older form, the 卜 part had a horizontal bar extending outward, giving the sense of outside.

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

日京景

Meaning part形符xíngfú

日日rìsun

Sound part声符shēngfú

京

京jīng景jǐng

Same sound today

景 has 日 (sun) with 京, which gives its sound; it originally meant sunlight.

Appears in

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