Laowai

Laowai (Chinese: 老外; pinyin: lǎowài) is one of several Chinese words for foreigner. Laowai literally translates as "old" (lao 老) "foreigner" (wai 外). 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.

Etymology and usage

Laowai is a commonly used Chinese word. It is the shortened, informal version of wǎiguórén (外国人), which literally means "foreign country person". There is some dispute about the correct Chinese characters used to write the word. While "老外" is the more common form, some argue that the character "佬", with the addition of the ren (person) radical (人字旁) is more correct. However, this form is grammatically awkward ("佬" is a slightly derogatory noun for an adult male), and infrequently used.

Lao 老, or "old", is frequently used to express long-term friendship, as in lǎopéngyou, which means "old friend"; or respect, as in lǎoshī 老师, which means "teacher". However, there are also words with negative connotations containing the character 'lao', such as lǎo dōngxi 老东西 ("silly old fool"), lǎohān 老憨 ("simpleton") and lǎo gǔdǒng 老古董 ("old fogey, fuddy-duddy"), where 老 here connotes "stick-in-the-mud". Since 'laowai' is regarded as a fairly neutral term by those who use it, whether it is viewed by the Chinese speaker as derogatory or not depends largely on the tone or manner where it is used. To them, the term may be used sarcastically or in an informal, jokey, even genial way.

Lao is also used as an empty prefix in words for some animals, such as lǎohǔ 老虎 ("tiger") and lǎoshǔ 老鼠 ("rat, mouse"). (There is disagreement about this "neutral" use of 'lao' in front of these animal characters. In the prior cases mentioned, the animals are considered lucky, the rat in particular functioning as a fertility symbol. However, these two animals in addition to other cases (including 老鹰 lǎoyīng ("eagle") and 老狐狸 "lǎohúli" ("fox") the "lao" indicates fear or discomfort.)

The recently published edition of the Chinese-language dictionary 现代汉语规范词典 (Xiàndài Hànyǔ Guīfàn Cìdiǎn) states that 'laowai' carries a bantering connotation (谐谑; xiéxuè). An indication of any negative connotations of 'laowai' is the fact that it is sometimes used synonymously with wàiháng (外行; amateur, or lay person). A pejorative term for foreigner, yángguǐzi 洋鬼子, which literally means foreign devil, was in frequent use early in the 20th century, but today is rarely used and is recognized by Chinese as inappropriate and racist.

'Laowai', as well as wàiguórén, are commonly-used terms that in everyday spoken Chinese refer to Caucasians, which contradicts the header of this article which says it just refers to "foreigners" in general, but there are different levels of honesty in approaching this matter. The use of 老外 refer exclusively to Westerners causes some animosity among some of them who feel that they are referred to as "foreigners" on the basis on their skin colour and not on the basis of nationality. Further, they consider it unfair that people from other countries are referred to by their respective nationalities, but Westerners are singled out with a name that can be interpreted as "outsider" (hence 外). This is exemplified in alternative terms for non-Caucasians, which include rìběnrén 日本人, the Chinese word for Japanese. Someone who has dark skin colour and appears to be African in origin will be called hēirén 黑人, which means black person. Sometimes the term lǎohēi 老黑 is used for people of African descent, a term which has pejorative connotations, though not as offensive as 老外 because many people of African descent refer to themselves as "black people", whereas Westerners do not refer to themselves as "foreigners" because they feel it is not logical to refer to themselves as "foreigners" in the country in which they, themselves, were born and live. Furthermore, when visiting China they introduce themselves as being from their respective countries, not as 老外 or as "foreigners".

Controversy

In recent years the word ‘‘laowai’’ has begun to stir up controversy within the expatriate community in China. In this way ‘‘laowai’‘ is similar to how Americans view the Spanish word gringo and Westerners view the Japanese word gaijin or the Thai word farang. This is because many foreigners in China believe that ‘‘laowai’‘ is a derogatory term. This is because some Chinese frequently shout out "Laowai"! to foreigners passing by, which may then be followed up with laughter and taunting.

The official Chinese press has expressed concern about the inappropriate use of ‘‘laowai’‘ and foreign sensitivities surrounding the word. Editorials, written by foreigners and Chinese, have appeared in English and Chinese language newspapers about the subject, but generally indicate that ‘‘laowai’‘ is not intended to be a pejorative term. However, local governments have launched campaigns aimed at educating the Chinese public about the appropriate usage of ‘‘laowai’‘.

The term "laowai" and also the rough English equivalent are sometimes considered offensive when used by migrant Chinese communities in Western countries. The rationale for people taking offense at this is associated with their belief that they are not foreigners in the country in which they are born.

See also

• List of terms for white people in non-Western countries
• Anti-Western sentiment in China
• Ang Mo - Chinese
• Gweilo - Cantonese
• Farang - Thai
• Gaijin - Japanese
• Gringo - Spanish
• Mzungu - Swahili
• Haole - Hawaiian

External links

• Informative blog entry on Laowai
• How to say and write 'Foreigner' in Chinese
• Culture: Seven Ways to Say 'Foreigner'
• Laowai Is What You Make It
• The "Laowai", Racism and Personal Space in China
• Chinese Culture for Aspiring Laowai