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见外 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
见外jiànwàito regard somebody as an outsiderHSK 7, unknown, 9 strokes, rank #23520, Very Hard
jiànwài(jian4wai4)jian wai T4
  1. 1to regard somebody as an outsider
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March 24, 2026

见外(見外)jiànwài(jian4wai4)

见外 (jiàn wài) means to regard someone as an outsider or to treat someone as if they are not part of a group or community. This term is often used in social contexts to highlight a lack of inclusion or acceptance, typically in interpersonal relationships. It can imply a feeling of distance or alienation, particularly among friends or family.

Strokes9Frequency#23520DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural note

In Chinese culture, the concept of belonging and inclusion is significant, especially within families and close-knit communities. Using the term 见外 can reflect a social faux pas, as it highlights a failure to integrate someone fully into the circle.

Memory tip

Imagine a friend who always stands outside the door, looking in. The character 见 (jiàn) resembles an eye, seeing someone outside (外, wài). Together, they depict the act of seeing someone as an outsider, emphasizing the feeling of separation.

Meanings of 见外

jiànwài(jian4wai4)
1to regard somebody as an outsider
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About 见外

见外Simplified
見外Traditional
9Strokes
—Radical
形容词xíngróngcíadjective (adj.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L7AdvancedCEFRC2

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AI study notes for 见外

Quick Contrast

外人 (wàirén) — use 见外 when emphasizing the act of treating someone as an outsider, while 外人 simply refers to the outsider themselves.

Usage Notes

Be careful to use 见外 in contexts where exclusion or lack of intimacy is implied. It is generally informal and may sound accusatory, so use it cautiously. Common collocations include phrases like 觉得被见外 (to feel treated as an outsider) or 不要见外 (do not treat me as an outsider).

HSK Study Tips

While 见外 is not included in the HSK vocabulary lists, its components can be found in other HSK words. Focus on recognizing the characters 见 (to see) and 外 (outside) as they appear in various contexts. Understanding this term can help enhance your comprehension of social dynamics in Chinese language.

Common Mistakes

Learners often misuse 见外 by applying it in overly formal contexts. For example, saying '我们不应该见外工作' (We shouldn't regard outsiders at work) is incorrect; instead, use it in personal contexts, like '我觉得你对我见外' (I feel you regard me as an outsider).

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 见外

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Component characters

见jiànto appear
HSK 14 strokes见
View full entry
外wàioutside
HSK 15 strokes夕
View full entry

How to say to regard somebody as an outsider in Chinese

“to regard somebody as an outsider” in Chinese is见外jiànwài

见外 (jiàn wài) means to regard someone as an outsider or to treat someone as if they are not part of a group or community. This term is often used in social contexts to highlight a lack of inclusion or acceptance, typically in interpersonal relationships. It can imply a feeling of distance or alienation, particularly among friends or family.

When to use 见外

Be careful to use 见外 in contexts where exclusion or lack of intimacy is implied. It is generally informal and may sound accusatory, so use it cautiously. Common collocations include phrases like 觉得被见外 (to feel treated as an outsider) or 不要见外 (do not treat me as an outsider).

见外 or something close to it

外人 (wàirén) — use 见外 when emphasizing the act of treating someone as an outsider, while 外人 simply refers to the outsider themselves.

What learners get wrong

Learners often misuse 见外 by applying it in overly formal contexts. For example, saying '我们不应该见外工作' (We shouldn't regard outsiders at work) is incorrect; instead, use it in personal contexts, like '我觉得你对我见外' (I feel you regard me as an outsider).

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见
外

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Frequently asked questions about 见外

It's generally more appropriate in informal settings, as it carries emotional weight and may not fit well in formal business communications.

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