Laowai

Laowai (Chinese: 老外; pinyin: lǎowài) is one of several Chinese words for foreigner. Lǎowài literally translates as "always" (lǎo 老) "foreigner" (wài 外), not "old foreigner" as it could be misunderstood as. It is an informal word that appears in both spoken and written Chinese. Most people (i.e. Chinese people) who use the term consider laowai a casual and fairly neutral word. Recipients, on the other hand, are not so unanimous in this opinion.