noun HSK 4
wài
wilderness · outdoors · the wild · open country

Meaning

野外 refers to natural outdoor environments away from urban areas and human habitation. It encompasses wilderness areas, open countryside, and natural settings where human development is minimal or absent. The term combines 野 (wild) and 外 (outside) to convey the sense of being outside in wild, untamed nature.

Usage

Commonly used in contexts involving outdoor activities, scientific fieldwork, or survival situations. Often appears in compounds like 野外考察 (field investigation) or 野外生存 (wilderness survival). The term carries a neutral tone and is used in both formal and informal contexts when discussing nature, camping, research, or exploration.

Examples

  1. 01
    我们周末要去野外露营。
    Wǒmen zhōumò yào wài yíng.
    We're going camping in the wilderness this weekend.
  2. 02
    科学家们在野外发现了一种新的植物。
    Kēxuéjiāmen zài wài fāxiàn le zhǒng xīn de zhíwù.
    Scientists discovered a new species of plant in the wild.

Characters

Common collocations

  • 野外考察
    wài kǎo chá
    field investigation/survey
  • 野外生存
    wài shēng cún
    wilderness survival
  • 野外活动
    wài huó dòng
    outdoor activities
  • 野外
    zài wài
    in the wild/outdoors

Antonyms

Origin

The combination literally means 'wild outside' or 'outside the cultivated areas.' 野 originally depicted land beyond city walls or farmland, while 外 indicates being outside or beyond boundaries.

Related