Usage note
外面表示在房子、门或围墙之外的地方。
wài miàn biǎo shì zài fáng zi 、 mén huò wéi qiáng zhī wài de dì fāng。
外面 means the place outside a house, door, or wall.
Context note
外面常用来谈天气、位置和活动地点。
wài miàn cháng yòng lái tán tiān qì 、 wèi zhì hé huó dòng dì diǎn。
外面 is often used to talk about weather, location, and where activities happen.
5 examples
外面很冷。
wài miàn hěn lěng。
It is cold outside.
外面下雨了。
wài miàn xià yǔ le。
It is raining outside.
猫在外面玩。
māo zài wài miàn wán。
The cat is playing outside.
请不要去外面。
qǐng bú yào qù wài miàn。
Please do not go outside.
外面有很多人。
wài miàn yǒu hěn duō rén。
There are many people outside.
5 mini stories
外面风很大，我们把门关上了。
wài miàn fēng hěn dà， wǒ men bǎ mén guān shàng le。
The wind outside was strong, so we closed the door.
小狗喜欢在外面跑来跑去。
xiǎo gǒu xǐ huan zài wài miàn pǎo lái pǎo qù。
The puppy likes to run around outside.
外面开始下雪了。孩子们都很开心。
wài miàn kāi shǐ xià xuě le。 hái zi men dōu hěn kāi xīn。
It started snowing outside. The children were very happy.
老师说外面太热，大家先在里面休息。
lǎo shī shuō wài miàn tài rè， dà jiā xiān zài lǐ miàn xiū xi。
The teacher said it was too hot outside, so everyone rested inside first.
我听见外面有人说话，就走过去看。
wǒ tīng jiàn wài miàn yǒu rén shuō huà， jiù zǒu guò qù kàn。
I heard someone talking outside, so I walked over to look.
Mini dialogue
外面下雨
A
外面下雨了吗？
Wàimiàn xià yǔ le ma?
Is it raining outside?
B
是的，外面下大雨了。
Shì de, wàimiàn xià dà yǔ le.
Yes, it's raining heavily outside.
去外面玩
A
妈妈，我可以去外面玩吗？
Māma, wǒ kěyǐ qù wàimiàn wán ma?
Mom, can I go play outside?
B
可以，但是外面冷，要穿外套。
Kěyǐ, dànshì wàimiàn lěng, yào chuān wàitào.
Yes, but it's cold outside, you need to wear a jacket.
Related words and contrasts
opposite
里面
lǐmiàn
inside
Direct antonym of 外面
similar
外边
wàibian
outside
Colloquial synonym