外逃 (wài táo) — to flee to another place; to flee abroad

Definition

A formal verb meaning 'to flee' — escape by leaving one's place, often to another country. Used in news and official contexts for suspects, officials, or capital; more formal and directional than 逃跑.

verb
to flee to another placeto flee abroad

Examples

  • 外逃。
    Hěn duō tān wū fàn wài táo dào guó wài.
    Many corrupt officials have fled abroad.
  • 外逃，。
    Dà liàng zī jīn wài táo hǎi wài, zào chéng jīng jì wèn tí.
    A large amount of capital has fled overseas, causing economic problems.
  • 外逃。
    Tā yīn fàn zuì wài táo dào le wài dì.
    He committed a crime and fled to another place.

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wàioutward
逃táoflee

外 indicates fleeing outward or abroad, and 逃 means to flee.

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
卜卜bǔ
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.

Open 外 →

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
辶Written in full as辵chuòwalk
Sound part声符shēngfú
兆
兆zhào逃táo
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

逃 pairs 辶 (walk) with 兆, which gives the pronunciation.

Open 逃 →

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