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海外 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
海外hǎiwàioverseasHSK 5, unknown, rank #7990, Hard
海外hǎiwàiabroadHSK 5, unknown, rank #7990, Hard
hǎiwài(hai3wai4) T3
  1. 1overseas
  2. 2abroad
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026
海外()hǎiwài(hai3wai4)

海外 refers to places beyond the sea, specifically overseas or abroad. It is commonly used in contexts such as travel, study, or business when discussing locations outside of one's home country.

Frequency#7990DifficultyHard
Cultural Note

In China, studying or working overseas has become increasingly popular, and the term 海外 is often associated with aspirations for a better education or career opportunities abroad.

Memory Tip

Imagine a giant wave (海, hǎi) carrying a boat (外, wài) far from shore. The wave symbolizes the sea, and the boat represents traveling abroad. Together, they help you remember that 海外 means overseas.

Meanings of 海外

hǎiwài(hai3wai4)
1overseas
2abroad
Exercise 1 of 3

Listen & Choose the Meaning

Choose the correct answer:

About 海外

海外Simplified
Traditional
—Strokes
—Radical
名词míngcínoun (n.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L5IntermediateHSKKL3CEFRC1

Podcast: 海外

JasonAmy

Podcast: 海外

Listen to Jason & Amy break down this word for you

AI Study Notes for 海外

Quick Contrast

海外 (hǎiwài) vs 国外 (guówài) — use 海外 for a broader sense of overseas, while 国外 specifically refers to foreign countries.

Memory Mnemonic

Imagine a giant wave (海, hǎi) carrying a boat (外, wài) far from shore. The wave symbolizes the sea, and the boat represents traveling abroad. Together, they help you remember that 海外 means overseas.

Usage Notes

Learners often confuse 海外 with similar terms like 国内 (guó nèi, domestic). Remember that 海外 specifically refers to foreign places. It is used in both formal and informal contexts, but avoid using it in overly casual conversations.

HSK Study Tips

While 海外 is not an HSK word, it connects well with other travel-related vocabulary at the same level, such as 旅行 (lǚxíng, travel) and 文化 (wénhuà, culture). Focus on using it in sentences about travel or international experiences.

Cultural Note

In China, studying or working overseas has become increasingly popular, and the term 海外 is often associated with aspirations for a better education or career opportunities abroad.

Common Mistakes

Learners sometimes mistakenly say '海边' (hǎi biān, seaside) when they mean 海外. Remember that 海边 refers to the shore, while 海外 specifically means abroad.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 海外

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Component Characters

海hǎiocean
HSK 310 strokes氵
View full entry
外wàioutside
HSK 15 strokes夕
View full entry

Write 海外

海
外

Practice writing 海外 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.

Write correctly 3 times to earn XP

Common Confusions with 海外

海外vs外
wài

Same sound but different meaning

海外vs海
hǎi

Same radical氵 but different meaning

Exercise 1 of 1

Spot the Difference

Which character means "overseas"?

or

Usage Notes for 海外

Usage in Different Contextsregister

The term '海外' is commonly used in both formal and informal contexts to refer to overseas locations.

1

我计划去海外学习。

I plan to study abroad.

Exercise 1 of 1

Fill in the Blank

我计划去____学习。

I plan to study abroad.

Cultural Notes for 海外

🏮Cultural insight

In China, studying or working overseas has become increasingly popular, and the term 海外 is often associated with aspirations for a better education or career opportunities abroad.

Frequently Asked Questions about 海外

Common phrases include '海外留学' (studying abroad) and '海外投资' (overseas investment). These phrases reflect various activities or interests related to foreign countries.