外挂 (wài guà) — to attach externally; to use an external plug-in or cheat program (in gaming)

Definition

As a verb, 外挂 literally means to attach or plug something in externally (e.g. an extra fuel tank, a software add-on). In online gaming, it refers specifically to using a cheat program — a sense learners will encounter most often.

verb
to attach externallyto use an external plug-in or cheat program (in gaming)

Examples

  • 外挂。
    Tā zài chē shàng wài guà le yí gè yóu xiāng.
    He attached an external fuel tank to the car.
  • 外挂。
    Zhè ge chéng xù kě yǐ wài guà dào liú lǎn qì lǐ.
    This program can be installed as an add-on to the browser.
  • ，。
    Tā zài yóu xì lǐ wài guà le, jié guǒ zhàng hào bèi fēng le.
    He used an external cheat in the game, and as a result, his account was banned.

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
挂guàhang/attach

外 “outside” + 挂 “hang/attach” means an external add-on or attaching externally.

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.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 掛; 挂 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
⺘Written in full as手shǒuhand
Sound part声符shēngfú
卦
卦guà掛guà
Same sound today

In the traditional form 掛, the hand part ⺘ and the sound part 卦 show hooking or hanging something with the hand; this form was originally a popular form of 挂.

Open 挂 →

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