Meaning
屋外 refers to the space outside of a building or house, as opposed to the interior. It emphasizes the area immediately outside a structure rather than nature in general. This word is commonly used to describe activities, weather conditions, or locations that are exterior to a building.
Usage
屋外 is used in both spoken and written Chinese to contrast indoor and outdoor spaces. It's particularly common when describing weather conditions outside, activities taking place outside a building, or when telling someone to go outside. It's more formal than colloquial expressions like 外面 (wàimiàn), though both are widely used.
Examples
- 01屋外正在下雨，你最好带把伞。, .It's raining outside, you'd better take an umbrella.
- 02孩子们在屋外玩得很开心。.The children are playing happily outside.
Characters
Common collocations
- 屋外活动outdoor activities
- 在屋外outside, outdoors
- 屋外温度outdoor temperature
Antonyms
Origin
The word combines 屋 (house/building) with 外 (outside) to literally mean 'outside the house.' This straightforward compound has been used in Chinese for centuries to denote exterior spaces.