Definition
局外人 literally means 'person outside the situation (局)'. It refers to someone who is not part of a particular group, activity, or event — an outsider or bystander. Unlike the more general 外人 ('outsider' in the sense of 'stranger' or 'non-family'), 局外人 emphasizes being excluded from or uninvolved in a specific context, such as a project, a conversation, or a social circle. It can also carry a sense of alienation, similar to the existential 'outsider' in Camus's novel.
n.
outsiderperson not involved in a particular situationgroupor event
Examples
- ，局外人，。Zài zhège xiàngmù zhōng, wǒmen jǐ gè shì jú wài rén, bù liǎojiě jùtǐ qíngkuàng.In this project, we are outsiders and don't know the specific details.
- 局外人，。Tā juéde zìjǐ xiàng gè jú wài rén, wúfǎ róngrù zhège quānzi.He feels like an outsider, unable to fit into this circle.
- ，局外人，。Zhè jiàn shì yǔ nǐ wúguān, nǐ zhǐ shì gè jú wài rén, bú yào chāshǒu.This matter has nothing to do with you — you're just an outsider, so don't interfere.
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