外出 (wài chū) — to go out (for errands, work, or a specific pur… | TongTong Chinese Dictionary

Definition

外出 emphasizes leaving your usual place for a specific purpose (errands, work, or a trip), more formal than 出门 or 出去. Use it in notices, announcements, and business contexts.

verb

to go out (for errands, work, or a specific purpose)to go away (on a trip or business)

Examples

外出，。
Tā jīn tiān wài chū bàn shì, wǎn shàng cái huí lái.
He went out today for errands and won't be back until evening.
外出。
Gōng sī pài wǒ wài chū chū chāi yí gè xīng qī.
The company sent me on a business trip out of town for a week.
，外出。
Tā shēng bìng le, bù néng wài chū.
He's sick and can't go out.

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 means outside and 出 means go out, so 外出 refers to going out to another place.

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.

Two or more meaningful parts placed together so that their meanings combine into a new one.

止止zhǐfoot
凵凵kǎncave

出 combines 止 (foot) and 凵 (cave) to show a foot stepping out of a cave.

Appears in

HSK 3.0 Level 4 Daily Routine

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