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外衣 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
外衣wàiyīouter clothingHSK 6, unknown, 11 strokes, rank #8756, Hard
外衣wàiyīsemblanceHSK 6, unknown, 11 strokes, rank #8756, Hard
外衣wàiyīappearanceHSK 6, unknown, 11 strokes, rank #8756, Hard
wàiyī(wai4yi1)wai yi T4
  1. 1outer clothing
  2. 2semblance
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March 24, 2026

外衣wàiyī(wai4yi1)

外衣 (wài yī) refers to outer clothing or garments that are worn over other clothes, such as jackets or coats. It can also metaphorically describe an appearance or semblance, suggesting that something may look one way on the outside while being different underneath.

Strokes11Frequency#8756DifficultyHard
Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, the concept of 外衣 extends beyond clothing; it can symbolize one's social status or the way individuals present themselves in society. The phrase often appears in discussions about impressions and first appearances.

Memory Tip

Think of '外' (wài) as 'outside' and '衣' (yī) as 'clothing.' Imagine putting on a jacket as your '外衣,' which gives you a certain appearance to the world, similar to how an actor wears a costume to portray a character.

Meanings of 外衣

wàiyī(wai4yi1)
1outer clothing
2semblance
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About 外衣

外衣Simplified
11Strokes
—Radical
#—Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L6IntermediateHSKKL3CEFRC1

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Podcast: 外衣

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AI Study Notes for 外衣

Quick Contrast

外套 (wàitào) - typically refers to a specific type of outer garment, often a coat, while 外衣 (wàiyī) is more general and can include various types of outer clothing.

Usage Notes

Common mistakes include confusing 外衣 with 内衣 (nèi yī), which means underwear. While 外衣 is used in both formal and informal contexts, it's important to match the tone of your conversation. For example, you might say '我买了一件外衣' (I bought an outer garment) in everyday speech but might use a more formal term in a fashion context.

HSK Study Tips

As '外衣' is not an HSK word, it's beneficial to relate it to HSK level words like '衣服' (yīfu, clothing) and '外' (wài, outside). Focus on how this term can enhance your vocabulary when discussing fashion or appearances.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse '外衣' with '外面' (wàimiàn, outside) in sentences. For instance, saying '我需要外面' instead of '我需要外衣' is incorrect. Make sure to use '外衣' when specifically referring to outer garments.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 外衣

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Component Characters

外wàioutside
HSK 15 strokes夕
View full entry
衣yīclothes
HSK 26 strokes衣
View full entry

How to say outer clothing in Chinese

“outer clothing” in Chinese is外衣wàiyī

外衣 (wài yī) refers to outer clothing or garments that are worn over other clothes, such as jackets or coats. It can also metaphorically describe an appearance or semblance, suggesting that something may look one way on the outside while being different underneath.

When to use 外衣

Common mistakes include confusing 外衣 with 内衣 (nèi yī), which means underwear. While 外衣 is used in both formal and informal contexts, it's important to match the tone of your conversation. For example, you might say '我买了一件外衣' (I bought an outer garment) in everyday speech but might use a more formal term in a fashion context.

外衣 or something close to it

外套 (wàitào) - typically refers to a specific type of outer garment, often a coat, while 外衣 (wàiyī) is more general and can include various types of outer clothing.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse '外衣' with '外面' (wàimiàn, outside) in sentences. For instance, saying '我需要外面' instead of '我需要外衣' is incorrect. Make sure to use '外衣' when specifically referring to outer garments.

Write 外衣

外
衣

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Frequently Asked Questions about 外衣

外衣 specifically refers to outer garments, while 衣服 is a more general term for clothing.

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