外用 (wài yòng) — (attribute) for external use (on the skin or body); topical

Definition

An adjective meaning 'for external use' — typically applied to medicines or preparations meant for the skin or body surface, not to be swallowed. Usually modifies a noun (外用的药) or follows 是…的.

adjective
(attribute) for external use (on the skin or body)topical

Examples

  • 外用。
    Zhè píng wài yòng de yào shuǐ yì tiān yòng liǎng cì.
    Apply this bottle of topical solution twice a day.
  • 外用。
    Zhè zhǒng wài yòng de yào gāo bù néng tú zài shāng kǒu shàng.
    This kind of topical ointment cannot be applied on wounds.
  • ，外用。
    Qǐng zhù yì, zhè shì wài yòng de yào pǐn.
    Please note that this is a medication for external use.

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
用yònguse

外 means outside, and 用 means use, together describing topical application.

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.

用 was formed by adding a handle to an earlier form.

Open 用 →

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