外围
这座城市的外围地区正在快速发展。
The peripheral areas of this city are developing rapidly.
The outer edge or surrounding area of a place or object.
这条高速公路连接了市中心和外围的工业园区。
This highway connects the city center with the industrial park in the periphery.
警方在外围设置了路障以控制人群。
Police set up roadblocks in the periphery to control the crowd.
Often used in urban planning, geography, or security contexts.
In sports or competitions, the teams or players ranked outside the top positions.
这支球队在联赛中排名外围，但表现出色。
This team is ranked in the periphery of the league but has performed excellently.
Common in sports reporting, especially in soccer or basketball.
Related Phrases
Pro Tip
Context Matters
The meaning of 外围 shifts based on context. In urban planning, it refers to geographical areas, while in sports, it describes rankings. Always check the surrounding text to determine the intended meaning.
Gold Rule
Avoid Overgeneralization
Do not use 外围 to describe abstract or non-physical concepts unless in a technical or specialized context. For example, 'peripheral interests' is better translated as '次要利益' (secondary interests).
Word Origin
Composed of 外 (outer, outside) and 围 (enclose, surround), originally meaning the outer boundary of an enclosed area. The term has evolved to describe peripheral regions or elements in modern usage.
Usage Notes
In Chinese, 外围 is often used in both literal and figurative contexts. It can refer to physical boundaries (e.g., city outskirts) or metaphorical ones (e.g., secondary positions in a competition). Avoid using it to describe abstract concepts like 'peripheral interests' unless in a technical context.