白人女孩
báirén nǚhái
The English phrase white girl is translated into Chinese as 白人女孩 (báirén nǚhái).
白人女孩 is a neutral, descriptive term used to identify race and gender. Another term you may encounter is 洋妞, which is used to describe a foreign or Western girl.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of 白人 (báirén), meaning 'white person' and 女孩 (nǚhái), meaning 'girl'.
How does it change in a sentence?
白人女孩 is a noun phrase and does not change its form for singular or plural usage.
How do you pronounce it?
báirén nǚhái
Did you know?
- The term 洋 (yáng) used in the slang 洋妞 originally referred to the 'ocean' or 'seas', which is why it is used as a prefix for anything arriving from overseas.
- The character 白 used in 白人 is also a key part of the traditional Chinese beauty ideal 皮肤白皙, which prizes 'fair' or 'white' skin.
- In real-world conversation, Chinese speakers prefer naming a specific nationality, such as 美国女孩, over using the general racial term 白人女孩.
Examples in context
- 那个洋妞很友好。That Western girl is very friendly.
- 那个白人女孩很友好。Nàge báirén nǚhái hěn yǒuhǎo.That white girl is very friendly.
- 我认识一个白人女孩。Wǒ rènshì yīgè báirén nǚhái.I know a white girl.
- 那个白人女孩在画画。Nàge báirén nǚhái zài huàhuà.That white girl is drawing.
Example conversation
Zhiqiang and Jiayi are talking about a new student at school.
- 志强 Zhiqiang你看到那个新来的白人女孩了吗？Nǐ kàndào nàge xīn lái de báirén nǚhái le ma?Did you see that new white girl?
- 佳怡 Jiayi看到了，她看起来很友好。Kàndào le, tā kàn qǐlái hěn yǒuhǎo.I did, she looks very friendly.
- 志强 Zhiqiang她叫什么名字？Tā jiào shénme míngzì?What is her name?
- 佳怡 Jiayi我想她叫艾玛。Wǒ xiǎng tā jiào Àimǎ.I think her name is Emma.
