---
title: "Wailai Meaning: 外来 (wàilái) Means “external”"
description: "外来 (traditional 外來, wàilái) means “external; foreign; from elsewhere; nonlocal”. Hear its tones, see what 外 and 来 each mean and a real sentence that uses it."
canonical: "https://mandarinthewild.com/meaning/wailai"
published: "2026-10-21"
updated: "2026-11-06"
author: "Mandarin The Wild"
---

[What does it mean in Chinese?](https://mandarinthewild.com/meaning)

# What does 外来 mean?

猫头鹰māotóuyīngowl

外来 wàilái

## external; foreign; from elsewhere; nonlocal

## Its characters

1. 外 wài foreign
2. 来 lái to come

## In a sentence

这个城市有很多外来人口。 This city has a large population from elsewhere.

[More about 外来](https://mandarinthewild.com/words/%E5%A4%96%E6%9D%A5)

## More words with 外 or 来

- [本来 běnlái](https://mandarinthewild.com/meaning/benlai)
- [长期以来 chángqī-yǐlái](https://mandarinthewild.com/meaning/changqiyilai)
- [出来 chūlái](https://mandarinthewild.com/meaning/chulai)
- [除外 chúwài](https://mandarinthewild.com/meaning/chuwai)
- [此外 cǐwài](https://mandarinthewild.com/meaning/ciwai)
- [从来 cónglái](https://mandarinthewild.com/meaning/conglai)
- [到来 dàolái](https://mandarinthewild.com/meaning/daolai)
- [额外 éwài](https://mandarinthewild.com/meaning/ewai)
- [格外 géwài](https://mandarinthewild.com/meaning/gewai)
- [归来 guīlái](https://mandarinthewild.com/meaning/guilai)

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