# Laowai

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Informal Chinese term for "foreigner"

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***Laowai*** is the [Pinyin](/source/Pinyin) pronunciation/transliteration of [老外](https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/%E8%80%81%E5%A4%96) ([pinyin](/source/Pinyin): *lǎowài*, lit. "old foreign"), an informal term or slang for "foreigner" and/or non-Chinese national, usually neutral but possibly impolite or loose in some circumstances. Formal and polite Chinese terms for foreigner include *wàiguórén* ([simplified Chinese](/source/Simplified_Chinese_characters): [外国人](https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/%E5%A4%96%E5%9B%BD%E4%BA%BA); [traditional Chinese](/source/Traditional_Chinese_characters): [外國人](https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/%E5%A4%96%E5%9C%8B%E4%BA%BA); lit. 'foreigner'), *wàibīn* ([外宾](https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/%E5%A4%96%E5%AE%BE); [外賓](https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/%E5%A4%96%E8%B3%93); 'foreigner guest'), *guójì yǒurén* ([国际](https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/%E5%9B%BD%E9%99%85)[友人](https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/%E5%8F%8B%E4%BA%BA); [國際](https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/%E5%9C%8B%E9%9A%9B)[友人](https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/%E5%8F%8B%E4%BA%BA); 'international friend') and *wàiguó pengyou* ([外國](https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/%E5%A4%96%E5%9C%8B)[朋友](https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/%E6%9C%8B%E5%8F%8B); [外国](https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/%E5%A4%96%E5%9B%BD)[朋友](https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/%E6%9C%8B%E5%8F%8B); 'foreigner friend').[1] "Laowai" is commonly used to refer to foreigners of non-East Asian ethnicities, primarily White, Black, and Brown people.[2][3][4][5] The term usually does not refer to ethnic [Han](/source/Han_Chinese) of non-Chinese citizenship or other Asian ethnicities.

## Etymology

The use of the word [老外](https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/%E8%80%81%E5%A4%96) began in the 1980s, likely as an abbreviation of the term [外國人](https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/%E5%A4%96%E5%9C%8B%E4%BA%BA) (foreigner) into [外](https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/%E5%A4%96) plus the prefix [老](https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/%E8%80%81).

As characters and words, [老](https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/%E8%80%81) *lǎo* means "old; senior; aged"; [外](https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/%E5%A4%96) *wài* means "out; outside; external; outer", and by extension various meanings including "appearance; faraway; distant; non-local; foreign; informal; other; unorthodox".

[老](https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/%E8%80%81) is a common colloquial prefix of respect (partly out of the value of seniority conferred), its use dating back to some of the earliest Mandarin vernacular records. In Mandarin, the prefix is well-established enough that it is now inseparably fixed in many words, where its original meaning is lost. For example, [老师](https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/%E8%80%81%E5%B8%88); [老師](https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/%E8%80%81%E5%B8%AB) *lǎoshī* "teacher" is composed of [老](https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/%E8%80%81) *lǎo* and [师](https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/%E5%B8%88); [師](https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/%E5%B8%AB) *shī* "teacher", and the original word for "teacher" [师](https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/%E5%B8%88); [師](https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/%E5%B8%AB) *shī* cannot be used alone. Other examples include [老天爷](https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/%E8%80%81%E5%A4%A9%E7%88%B7); [老天爺](https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/%E8%80%81%E5%A4%A9%E7%88%BA) *lǎotiānyé* "(Lord of) Heavens", [老乡](https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/%E8%80%81%E4%B9%A1); [老鄉](https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/%E8%80%81%E9%84%89) *lǎoxiāng* "fellow townspeople", [老虎](https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/%E8%80%81%E8%99%8E) *lǎohǔ* "[tiger](/source/Tiger)", and even [老鼠](https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/%E8%80%81%E9%BC%A0) *lǎoshǔ* "[mouse](/source/Mouse)". The prefix has undergone semantic broadening, and can be found modifying positive, negative, and neutrally charged terms.

In its active use, the prefix [老](https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/%E8%80%81) *lǎo* is most often added to surnames to show respect in informal [registers](/source/Register_(sociolinguistics)) towards anyone not definitively young. This is often contrasted to another prefix [小](https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/%E5%B0%8F) *xiǎo* "small; little; young", which, added to surnames, shows closeness and friendly affection in informal [registers](/source/Register_(sociolinguistics)) towards anyone more junior and at least slightly younger than the speaker. Another much less common and rather restricted use is attaching [老](https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/%E8%80%81) to a descriptor to mark such a person, with a slightly humorous undertone. For example, [老顽固](https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/%E8%80%81%E9%A1%BD%E5%9B%BA); [老頑固](https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/%E8%80%81%E9%A0%91%E5%9B%BA) *lǎowángù* "a stubborn one" is composed from [顽固](https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/%E9%A1%BD%E5%9B%BA); [頑固](https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/%E9%A0%91%E5%9B%BA) *wángù* "stubborn".

The associations of the prefix [老](https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/%E8%80%81) can be positive, indicating age or experience—such as *lǎopéngyou* ([老](https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/%E8%80%81)[朋友](https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/%E6%9C%8B%E5%8F%8B); 'old friend')—or respect, as in the familiar use of *lǎo* to denote the senior and respected members of families or to address teachers ([老师](https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/%E8%80%81%E5%B8%88); [老師](https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/%E8%80%81%E5%B8%AB), *lǎoshī*). It may also be used in combination with part of a person's name (usually the family name) to refer to that person in a familiar and respectful way (for example a person with the surname [周](/source/Zhou_(surname)), or Zhōu, could be referred to as 老周, literally "Old Zhōu"). This usage is reserved exclusively for adults, but implies familiarity rather than seniority, and is often attached to specific individuals as a nickname rather than being freely used.

However, in certain restricted contexts, it can also carry negative connotations of being old or aged looking ([老头子](https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/%E8%80%81%E5%A4%B4%E5%AD%90); [老頭子](https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/%E8%80%81%E9%A0%AD%E5%AD%90)), boring old [sticks-in-the-mud](https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/sticks-in-the-mud)—as in *lǎo gǔdǒng* ([Chinese](/source/Chinese_language): [老古董](https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/%E8%80%81%E5%8F%A4%E8%91%A3))—or of years of experience and contempt—as in *lǎo dōngxi* ([老东西](https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/%E8%80%81%E4%B8%9C%E8%A5%BF); [老東西](https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/%E8%80%81%E6%9D%B1%E8%A5%BF); 'old bastard', lit. "old thing"). It may be used in the [arts](/source/Chinese_theater) or in jokes with the sense of "always" or "very": a famous comedy role was named the *Lǎoniān* ([老蔫](https://zh.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E7%9B%B8%E4%BA%B2_(%E5%B0%8F%E5%93%81)), "Constantly Listless"). As a pun with *lǎoshī* "teacher", [老师](https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/%E8%80%81%E5%B8%88); [老師](https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/%E8%80%81%E5%B8%AB), [Tom Hardy](/source/Tom_Hardy) was affectionately known in mainland China as *Lǎoshī* ([Chinese](/source/Traditional_Chinese_characters): [老](https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/%E8%80%81)[濕](https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/%E6%BF%95); [s](/source/Simplified_characters) [老](https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/%E8%80%81)[湿](https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/%E6%B9%BF); Constantly Wet) partly for his perpetually shiny hair.[6]

The character has come to be used for specific nationality as well, with *lǎo-* functioning as a colloquial equivalent for *-guórén*: *lǎoměi* ([老](https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/%E8%80%81)[美](https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/%E7%BE%8E); '[American](/source/US)'), *lǎomò* ([老](https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/%E8%80%81)[墨](https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/%E5%A2%A8); '[Mexican](/source/Mexicans)'); even *lǎozhōng* ([老](https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/%E8%80%81)[中](https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/%E4%B8%AD)) to refer to Chinese ([中國人](https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/%E4%B8%AD%E5%9C%8B%E4%BA%BA); [中国人](https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/%E4%B8%AD%E5%9B%BD%E4%BA%BA); *Zhōngguórén*) themselves. The alarm clock emoji ⏰ (*nàozhōng*) is also used as a humorous punning variant of "lǎozhōng" on youth platforms.

## Informality of the term

The term is not considered necessarily offensive by those who choose to use it, but it may become so from context (tone, manner, situation, etc.). Among the Chinese, the term is informal and may be used in a neutral, genial, or even good-humored way.[7] Varyingly, it is ironically embraced, begrudgingly accepted, openly resented or not minded at all among the Western expatriate community.[8][9]

The official Chinese press has expressed concern about inappropriate use of laowai and avoids it in all formal reporting.[10]

Mark Rowswell, known under the stage name [Dashan](/source/Dashan), is one of the most famous Western nationals in China's media industry and has admitted a place for the term. However, he recognizes it as [pejorative](/source/Pejorative) and stated that "it is the foreigners [in China] who can't speak any Chinese who are truly 'laowai'" ([不](https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/%E4%B8%8D)[會](https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/%E6%9C%83)[說](https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/%E8%AA%AA)[漢語](https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/%E6%BC%A2%E8%AA%9E)[的](https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/%E7%9A%84)[外國人](https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/%E5%A4%96%E5%9C%8B%E4%BA%BA)[那](https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/%E9%82%A3)[纔](https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/%E7%BA%94)[叫](https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/%E5%8F%AB)[老外](https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/%E8%80%81%E5%A4%96)[呢](https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/%E5%91%A2); [不](https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/%E4%B8%8D)[会](https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/%E4%BC%9A)[说](https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/%E8%AF%B4)[汉语](https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/%E6%B1%89%E8%AF%AD)[的](https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/%E7%9A%84)[外国人](https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/%E5%A4%96%E5%9B%BD%E4%BA%BA)[那](https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/%E9%82%A3)[才](https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/%E6%89%8D)[叫](https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/%E5%8F%AB)[老外](https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/%E8%80%81%E5%A4%96)[呢](https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/%E5%91%A2)).[11]

Editorials, written by Chinese and non-Chinese, have appeared in English- and Chinese-language newspapers about the subject, particularly around the time of the [2008 Summer Olympics](/source/2008_Summer_Olympics) in [Beijing](/source/Beijing),[7]

## See also

- [China portal](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Portal:China)

Look up ***[laowai](https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/laowai)*** or ***[老外](https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/%E8%80%81%E5%A4%96)*** in Wiktionary, the free dictionary.

- *[Ang Mo](/source/Ang_Mo)* ("redhead" in [Hokkien](/source/Hokkien)/[Min Nan](/source/Min_Nan)/[Teochew](/source/Teochew_dialect))

- [China Hands](/source/China_Hands)

- *[Gaijin](/source/Gaijin)* ("outsider" in [Japanese](/source/Japanese_language))

- *[Gweilo](/source/Gweilo)* ("ghoulie" in [Cantonese](/source/Cantonese_language))

- [Permanent Foreigners](/source/Permanent_Foreigner)

## References

1. **[^](#cite_ref-1)** "[Culture: Seven Ways to Say 'Foreigner'](http://www.waze.net/china/laowai.php)". 17 Mar 2004. Accessed 15 Jun 2014.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-TROE96_2-0)** Gauthier, Sharol (2019). *CultureShock! Shangha*. Singapore: [Marshall Cavendish](/source/Marshall_Cavendish). p. [\[1\]](https://books.google.com/books?id=FLXLDwAAQBAJ&dq=laowai+term+used+in+shanghai&pg=PT36). Laowai, one of a couple Chinese words for foreigner, is one of the most common words a expat will hear in Shanghai. (...) Rather than taking offense, relax and enjoy your unique position, which, if you are of African descent or if you are a blue-eyed blonde, will give you celebrity ranking.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-TROE100_3-0)** Schmitt, Casey R. (2017). *Wannabes and Avatars: Anti-Racist Allies and Ethnic Appropriation in an age of Bloggin Facebook and Twitter*. p. [272](https://books.google.com/books?id=eUA9DwAAQBAJ&dq=black+people+are+laowai&pg=PA272). Laowai's [...] are big, especially black people's.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-4)** Mair, Victor. "[Laowai: the old furriner](http://languagelog.ldc.upenn.edu/nll/?p=11626)" at *Language Log*. 9 Apr 2014. Accessed 15 Jun 2014.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-5)** ["老外喜过中国年-中国年-江西新闻网"](http://jiangxi.jxnews.com.cn/system/2013/02/08/012285502.shtml). *jxnews.com.cn*.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-6)** "汤老湿(昵称)" "[汤姆·哈迪 (豆瓣)](https://movie.douban.com/celebrity/1049489/)"

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-pd_7-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-pd_7-1) *People's Daily Online*. "[Is 'Laowai' a negative term?](http://english.peopledaily.com.cn/90001/90780/91345/6325229.html)". 21 Dec 2007. Accessed 15 Jun 2014.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-8)** *Beyond Beyond Well Being*. "[The "Laowai", Racism and Personal Space in China](http://beyondwellbeing.com/al/1998/01/the_laowai_racism_and_personal.html)". 16 Jan 1998. Accessed 15 Jun 2014.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-9)** *Shanghai Star*. "[Laowai Is What You Make It](http://www.china.org.cn/english/12952.htm)". 18 May 2001, Hosted by China.org, 2001. Accessed 15 Jun 2014.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-10)** Although note its use in such informal human-interest stories as [this photo caption](http://ah.anhuinews.com/system/2012/03/27/004864645.shtml) from the Chinese edition of *[Anhui News](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Anhui_News&action=edit&redlink=1)*.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-11)** New Year's Gala (at 186:17). CCTV, 2011.

v t e Ethnic slurs by ethnicity Africans Abeed Black Diamond Boerehaat Choc ice Cushi Golliwog Hottentot Kaffir Wog Europeans General Ang mo Angry white male Bule Cracker Farang Gammon Guiri Guizi Gweilo Honky Mat Salleh Redleg Trixie Wasi'chu White monkey White nigger Whitey Wigger Wog Albanians Šiptar Turco-Albanian British Anglo-Saxons Limey Pom Scots Teuchter (Scottish Highlanders) Welsh Crachach (Welsh-speaking elite) Dic Siôn Dafydd (Anglophile Welsh) Sheep shagger Taffy Dutch Cheesehead Finns Chukhna French Cheese-eating surrender monkeys Gabacho Germans Hun Kraut Greeks Grecomans Irish Fenian (Republicans) Knacker (Irish Travellers) Pikey (Irish Travellers) Shoneen (Anglophile Irish) Taig (Irish Catholics) West Brit (Anglophile Irish) Italians Goombah Guido Polentone (Northern Italians) Terrone (South Italians) Wop Wog Poles Polack Russians Moskal Orc Tibla Serbs Shkije Serbomans Spaniards Gachupín Polaco (Catalans) Quinqui (Mercheros) Xarnego Ukrainians Khokhol Ukrop Others Bulgarophiles (Macedonians and Serbs) Hunky (eastern and central europeans) Yestonians (Russified Estonians) Asians East Asians General Banana (westernized East Asians) Gook Sangokujin (Korean and Taiwanese) Toku-A (Chinese and Korean) Twinkie (westernized East Asians) Chinese Ah Beng Chankoro Chinaman Ching chong Chink Chinky Coolie Jook-sing (overseas / westernized Chinese) Locust Shina Toku-A Zhing-zhong Japanese Jap Jjokbari Nip Xiao Riben Koreans Ban-jjokbari (Japan-affiliated Korean people) Gaoli bangzi Sangokujin (also Chinese) Toku-A Taiwanese Sangokujin Tai Ke (Benshengren) South Asians General American-Born Confused Desi (ABCD) Coconut (westernized South Asians) Coolie Wog Bengalis Bong Bongal Danchi babu Dkhar Kalar Malaun Mayang Indians Chinki (Northeast Indians) Coolie Keling (Maritime Southeast Asian-origin Indians) Pajeet Pakistanis Paki Southeast Asians Filipinos Vietnamese Eurasians Arabs Pallywood (Palestinians) Rafida (Shi'ites) Raghead Wog Jews Christ killer Jewish-American princess (JAP) Kafir Khazar (Ashkenazi Jews) Kike Marrano (Conversos / Crypto-Jews) Rootless cosmopolitan Wog Yekke (German Jews) Yid Zhyd / Zhydovka Żydokomuna Turks Kebab Mongol Kanake Romani, Dom, and Lom Didicoy Gypsies (sometimes used against other semi-nomadic groups) Nawar Zott Oceanians Anglo-Saxons (English Australians/New Zealanders) Blackfella (Indigenous Australians) Hori (Māori) Kanaka (Pacific Islander) Coconut (Pacific Islander) North and South Americans Indigenous Eskimo (Inuit / Yupik / Unangan), Indian/Injun (Native American / First Nations / American Indian) Redskin/Red Indian (Native American / First Nations) Squaw (Native American women) Blacks Alligator bait Black American princess Black Buck Cocolo Colored House Negro Jim Crow Macaca Mammy Mulatto Negro Nigger (Nigga) Pickaninny Rastus Queen / Queenie Sambo Schvartze Tar-Baby Uncle Tom Wog Whites Anglo-Saxons (Anglo-Americans) Angry white male Becky Buckra Conch (Bahamians of European descent) Coonass (Cajuns) Cracker Gringo Gweilo Haole Hillbilly / Hilljack Honky Karen Peckerwood Poor White Redleg Redneck Swamp Yankee Trailer trash Trixie Wasi'chu White monkey White nigger White trash Whitey Whitexican Wigger Others Beaner (Mexicans) Canuck (Canadians) Chirigüillo Cholo (Mestizos) Coonass (Cajuns) Greaser Gusano (Cubans) Half-breed Naco Newfie (Newfoundlander) Okie (Oklahomans) Pindos (Americans) Pocho (Mexican Americans) Roto (Chileans) Spic Ugly American (Americans) Veneco (Venezuelans) Wetback Yank / Yankee (Americans) Outsiders Ajam (non-Arabs) Barbarian Fresh off the boat / F.O.B. (immigrant) Gadjo (non-Romani) Gaijin (non-Japanese) Goy (non-Jew) Gringo (non-Latin Americans) Guizi (non-Chinese) Kafir (non-believer) (pl. Kuffar) Reffo / Balt (Non-Anglo immigrant to Australia) Savage (usually Indigenous, regarded as primitive/uncivilized) Shegetz (non-Jewish boy or man) (pl. Shkutzim) Shiksa (non-Jewish woman)

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Laowai](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Laowai) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Laowai?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.