Practise the thinking. Keep the judgement.
国外 and 海外: abroad and overseas
Original Chinese study material with English explanations. Simplified Chinese with pinyin; beginner, intermediate and advanced are editorial difficulty labels.
国外 (guówài) refers to outside a country, interpreted from context. 海外 (hǎiwài) means overseas or abroad and appears often in formal, business and community contexts.
他在国外学习。
Tā zài guówài xuéxí.
He studies abroad.
这家公司有海外客户。
Zhè jiā gōngsī yǒu hǎiwài kèhù.
This company has overseas customers.
The reference country is contextual. 海外 does not necessarily assert that someone physically crossed an ocean.
Try it
What does 在国外工作 mean?
- Work abroad
- Work indoors
- Work overtime
Answer and explanation
Work abroad. 国外 identifies a location outside the relevant country.