Usage note
“外观”指东西从外面看的样子。
“Wàiguān” zhǐ dōngxi cóng wàimiàn kàn de yàngzi.
"Appearance" refers to how something looks from the outside.
Context note
我们常常用“外观”来形容一个物品的外表好不好看。
Wǒmen chángcháng yòng “wàiguān” lái xíngróng yīgè wùpǐn de wàibiǎo hǎobù hǎokàn.
We often use "appearance" to describe whether the outside of an item looks good.
5 examples
这个玩具的外观很可爱。
zhè ge wán jù de wài guān hěn kě ài。
The appearance of this toy is very cute.
新书包的外观是蓝色的。
xīn shū bāo de wài guān shì lán sè de。
The appearance of the new backpack is blue.
我喜欢这个杯子的外观。
wǒ xǐ huan zhè ge bēi zi de wài guān。
I like the appearance of this cup.
房子的外观很漂亮。
fáng zi de wài guān hěn piào liang。
The appearance of the house is very beautiful.
汽车的外观很时尚。
qì chē de wài guān hěn shí shàng。
The appearance of the car is very stylish.
5 mini stories
小熊的外观是棕色的。外观看起来软软的。
xiǎo xióng de wài guān shì zōng sè de。 wài guān kàn qǐ lái ruǎn ruǎn de。
The appearance of the little bear is brown. The appearance looks soft.
新铅笔的外观很漂亮。外观上有小星星。
xīn qiān bǐ de wài guān hěn piào liang。 wài guān shàng yǒu xiǎo xīng xīng。
The appearance of the new pencil is very beautiful. The appearance has little stars.
蛋糕的外观很诱人。外观上有奶油花。
dàn gāo de wài guān hěn yòu rén。 wài guān shàng yǒu nǎi yóu huā。
The appearance of the cake is very tempting. The appearance has cream flowers.
这个花瓶的外观很古典。外观上有花纹。
zhè ge huā píng de wài guān hěn gǔ diǎn。 wài guān shàng yǒu huā wén。
The appearance of this vase is very classical. The appearance has patterns.
小鸟的外观很鲜艳。外观有红色和黄色。
xiǎo niǎo de wài guān hěn xiān yàn。 wài guān yǒu hóng sè hé huáng sè。
The appearance of the little bird is very bright. The appearance has red and yellow.
Mini dialogue
新书包
A
你的新书包外观真漂亮！
Nǐ de xīn shūbāo wàiguān zhēn piàoliang!
Your new backpack looks really beautiful!
B
谢谢，我喜欢它的外观。
Xièxie, wǒ xǐhuān tā de wàiguān.
Thanks, I like its appearance.
手机外观
A
这个手机的外观很特别。
Zhège shǒujī de wàiguān hěn tèbié.
The appearance of this phone is very special.
B
是的，外观设计很新颖。
Shì de, wàiguān shèjì hěn xīnyǐng.
Yes, the appearance design is very novel.
Related words and contrasts
similar
样子
yàng zi
look, appearance
样子 is more casual and commonly used in daily speech.
related
表面
biǎo miàn
surface, outward appearance
表面 refers to the outer side or superficial aspect.
opposite
内在
nèi zài
inner, internal
内在 is the opposite, meaning inner quality or inside.