Meaning
This word refers to a student who travels to another country to pursue their education. It combines 留学 (to study abroad) with 生 (student). The term is used both for Chinese students studying overseas and for foreign students studying in China, depending on context.
Usage
Commonly used in educational contexts and everyday conversation when discussing people studying in foreign countries. When Chinese people use it without additional context, they often mean Chinese students abroad, but it can equally refer to foreign students in China. Often appears in phrases like 中国留学生 (Chinese international students) or 外国留学生 (foreign students in China).
Examples
- 01我们学校有很多来自不同国家的留学生。.Our school has many international students from different countries.
- 02她是一名在美国读书的中国留学生。.She is a Chinese student studying in the United States.
Characters
Measure words
- 个一个留学生
- 名三名留学生
- 位两位留学生
Common collocations
- 中国留学生Chinese international student
- 外国留学生foreign student (in China)
- 留学生宿舍international student dormitory
- 留学生签证student visa
Antonyms
Origin
The word literally means 'remain-study-student,' reflecting the idea of staying in a foreign place to pursue education. The concept became prominent in modern Chinese during the late Qing Dynasty when China began sending students abroad to learn Western knowledge.