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外企 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
外企wàiqǐforeign enterpriseHSK 7, unknown, 11 strokes, Very Hard
外企wàiqǐcompany established in mainland China with direct investment from foreign entities or from investors in Taiwan, Macao or Hong KongHSK 7, unknown, 11 strokes, Very Hard
外企wàiqǐabbr. for 外資企業|外资企业HSK 7, unknown, 11 strokes, Very Hard
wàiqǐ(wai4qi3)wai qi T4
  1. 1foreign enterprise
  2. 2company established in mainland China with direct investment from foreign entities or from investors in Taiwan, Macao or Hong Kong
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March 24, 2026

外企wàiqǐ(wai4qi3)

外企 (wài qǐ) refers to a foreign enterprise, specifically a company that operates in mainland China with direct investment from foreign entities or from investors in Taiwan, Macao, or Hong Kong. These businesses often play a significant role in the Chinese economy by introducing foreign capital and technology.

Strokes11DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural note

In China, 外企 are often viewed as desirable employers due to their competitive salaries and benefits, as well as their modern workplace cultures. They are also seen as a bridge for cultural exchange and innovation.

Memory tip

Think of 外 (wài) as 'outside' and 企 (qǐ) as 'to rise or start', so 外企 suggests 'an outside company that rises in China'. Imagine a foreign flag rising over a new building in China, symbolizing the presence of foreign companies.

Meanings of 外企

wàiqǐ(wai4qi3)
1foreign enterprise
2company established in mainland China with direct investment from foreign entities or from investors in Taiwan, Macao or Hong Kong
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About 外企

外企Simplified
11Strokes
—Radical
#—Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L7AdvancedBCT✓CEFRC2

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AI study notes for 外企

Quick Contrast

外资企业 (wàizī qǐyè) refers specifically to foreign-funded enterprises, emphasizing the source of investment, while 外企 (wàiqǐ) broadly encompasses any foreign enterprise operating in China.

Usage Notes

When using 外企, it's important to distinguish it from domestic companies; it implies foreign investment. Common collocations include 外企员工 (foreign enterprise employee) and 外企文化 (foreign enterprise culture). Avoid confusing it with 企事业单位 (qǐ shì yè dān wèi) which refers to state-owned enterprises.

HSK Study Tips

While 外企 is not specifically listed in HSK levels, it relates to business vocabulary found in HSK 4 and above. Students should focus on learning related terms like 外资 (foreign capital) and 企业 (enterprise) to build a broader understanding of the business context.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 外企 with simply 'foreign' (外国), which doesn't imply business context. For example, saying 外国公司 (foreign country company) instead of 外企 is incorrect. Use 外企 to specify that it is a foreign-run business.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 外企

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Component characters

外wàioutside
HSK 15 strokes夕
View full entry
企qǐto plan a project
6 strokes人
View full entry

How to say foreign enterprise in Chinese

“foreign enterprise” in Chinese is外企wàiqǐ

外企 (wài qǐ) refers to a foreign enterprise, specifically a company that operates in mainland China with direct investment from foreign entities or from investors in Taiwan, Macao, or Hong Kong. These businesses often play a significant role in the Chinese economy by introducing foreign capital and technology.

When to use 外企

When using 外企, it's important to distinguish it from domestic companies; it implies foreign investment. Common collocations include 外企员工 (foreign enterprise employee) and 外企文化 (foreign enterprise culture). Avoid confusing it with 企事业单位 (qǐ shì yè dān wèi) which refers to state-owned enterprises.

外企 or something close to it

外资企业 (wàizī qǐyè) refers specifically to foreign-funded enterprises, emphasizing the source of investment, while 外企 (wàiqǐ) broadly encompasses any foreign enterprise operating in China.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 外企 with simply 'foreign' (外国), which doesn't imply business context. For example, saying 外国公司 (foreign country company) instead of 外企 is incorrect. Use 外企 to specify that it is a foreign-run business.

Write 外企

外
企

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Frequently asked questions about 外企

外企 refers to foreign enterprises, while 国企 refers to state-owned enterprises that are owned by the Chinese government.

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