Meaning
外行 literally means 'outside the profession' and refers to someone who lacks specialized knowledge or skill in a particular field. It describes a person who is not an expert or insider in a given trade, profession, or area of expertise. The term can be used as a noun to describe such a person or as an adjective to describe actions or knowledge that are amateurish.
Usage
Native speakers commonly use 外行 to modestly describe themselves when discussing topics outside their expertise, or to politely indicate that someone else may not fully understand a specialized field. It's not necessarily derogatory but can imply a lack of professional competence. Often appears in the phrase 外行看热闹，内行看门道 (laypeople watch the excitement, experts see the techniques).
Examples
- 01我对这方面完全是外行，你能给我解释一下吗？, ?I'm a complete layperson in this area, could you explain it to me?
- 02别看他是外行，但是学得很快。, .Don't think he's just an amateur—he learns very quickly.
Characters
Measure words
- 个一个外行
Common collocations
- 外行人layperson, non-expert
- 外行话layman's talk, amateur remarks
- 说外行话to speak like an amateur
Antonyms
Origin
The word combines 外 (outside) with 行 (profession/trade), literally meaning 'outside the profession.' The character 行 here uses its háng pronunciation, which refers to lines of business or trades, rather than xíng (to walk).