chūmén: 出门 - To Go Out, To Leave Home

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• Summary: Learn the essential Chinese verb phrase 出门 (chūmén), which means “to go out” or “to leave home.” This guide breaks down its characters, cultural context, and practical use in everyday conversation. Discover how 出门 (chūmén) is used for everything from running errands to going on a long trip, and understand the key difference between it and the similar phrase 出去 (chūqù) to avoid common mistakes.

• Pinyin (with tone marks): chūmén
• Part of Speech: Verb Phrase (Verb-Object)
• HSK Level: HSK 1
• Concise Definition: To go out; to leave one's home or current lodging.
• In a Nutshell: 出门 (chūmén) is one of the most fundamental verbs in Chinese. It describes the simple action of exiting your front door. Think of it as the opposite of staying inside. Whether you are stepping out for a minute to get the mail, heading to work, or embarking on a month-long vacation, the initial act of leaving your home base is called 出门.

• 出 (chū): This character is a pictogram representing a foot stepping over a threshold or a plant sprouting from the ground. Its core meaning is “to go out,” “to exit,” or “to emerge.”
• 门 (mén): This character is a clear picture of a two-panel door or a gate. It literally means “door” or “gate.”

When combined, 出门 (chūmén) literally translates to “exit the door.” This direct, pictorial meaning makes it easy to remember as the action of leaving your home.

While 出门 (chūmén) is a simple, everyday term, it subtly reflects the cultural importance of the home as a private, safe space. The `门 (mén)` acts as a clear boundary between the inner world (内, nèi) of the family and the outer world (外, wài) of the public. A common phrase you'll hear from family members in China is `出门小心 (chūmén xiǎoxīn)`, which means “Be careful when you go out.” This isn't just a casual “see you later”; it's a genuine expression of care, reminding the person leaving to be mindful of their safety in the “outside” world. In contrast, the English phrase “to go out” can be functionally similar but carries different connotations. For example, “going out” can mean dating someone (“They've been going out for a year”). 出门 (chūmén) has no romantic connotation; it strictly refers to the physical act of leaving a place. It's more akin to “to head out” or “to leave the house.”

出门 (chūmén) is used constantly in daily life. It is a neutral term appropriate for both formal and informal situations.

• Stating Plans: You use it to tell people you are leaving or planning to leave. (“I have to go out now.”)
• Asking About Plans: It's used to ask about someone else's schedule. (“What time are you heading out?”)
• Giving Reminders: It's frequently used in reminders about things to do before leaving. (“Before you go out, remember to turn off the lights.”)
• Describing Travel: For longer trips away from home, 出门 is often used to describe the state of being away. (`出门在外` - “to be out and away from home”).

• Example 1:
• 我今天不想出门。
• Pinyin: Wǒ jīntiān bùxiǎng chūmén.
• English: I don't want to go out today.
• Analysis: A simple, common sentence for expressing the desire to stay home. `不想 (bùxiǎng)` means “don't want to.”
• Example 2:
• 你准备什么时候出门？
• Pinyin: Nǐ zhǔnbèi shénme shíhòu chūmén?
• English: When are you preparing to go out?
• Analysis: A standard question to ask about someone's departure time. `准备 (zhǔnbèi)` means “to prepare.”
• Example 3:
• 出门前，请记得关灯和空调。
• Pinyin: Chūmén qián, qǐng jìdé guān dēng hé kōngtiáo.
• English: Before you go out, please remember to turn off the lights and air conditioning.
• Analysis: This sentence structure, `[Action] + 前 (qián)`, means “before [doing the action].” It's very common for giving instructions.
• Example 4:
• 他一大早就出门上班去了。
• Pinyin: Tā yī dà zǎo jiù chūmén shàngbān qùle.
• English: He went out to work early in the morning.
• Analysis: `一大早 (yī dà zǎo)` is a colloquial way to say “very early in the morning.” This example shows 出门 as the first action in a sequence.
• Example 5:
• 出门在外，一定要注意安全。
• Pinyin: Chūmén zàiwài, yīdìng yào zhùyì ānquán.
• English: When you are away from home, you must pay attention to safety.
• Analysis: `出门在外 (chūmén zàiwài)` is a set phrase that means “to be out and about” or “away from home,” often used when traveling. It carries a sense of being in an unfamiliar environment.
• Example 6:
• 每次出门，我的狗都很伤心。
• Pinyin: Měi cì chūmén, wǒ de gǒu dōu hěn shāngxīn.
• English: Every time I go out, my dog is very sad.
• Analysis: `每次 (měi cì)` means “every time,” showing how to talk about a recurring action.
• Example 7:
• 外面下大雨呢，你还要出门吗？
• Pinyin: Wàimiàn xià dàyǔ ne, nǐ hái yào chūmén ma?
• English: It's pouring rain outside, are you still going to go out?
• Analysis: `还要 (hái yào)` means “still want to” or “still going to,” used here to question someone's intention in light of the circumstances.
• Example 8:
• 我得出门去一趟银行。
• Pinyin: Wǒ děi chūmén qù yī tàng yínháng.
• English: I have to go out to make a trip to the bank.
• Analysis: `得 (děi)` means “must” or “have to.” `一趟 (yī tàng)` is a measure word for trips. This shows 出门 followed by the purpose for going out.
• Example 9:
• 他出门的时候忘了带手机。
• Pinyin: Tā chūmén de shíhòu wàngle dài shǒujī.
• English: He forgot to bring his phone when he left the house.
• Analysis: `…的时候 (…de shíhòu)` is a crucial structure meaning “when…” or “at the time of…”
• Example 10:
• 春节期间，很多人会选择出门旅游。
• Pinyin: Chūnjié qíjiān, hěnduō rén huì xuǎnzé chūmén lǚyóu.
• English: During the Spring Festival period, many people will choose to go out and travel.
• Analysis: This example connects 出门 with a larger cultural event, the Spring Festival, and the common activity of traveling.

The most common point of confusion for learners is the difference between 出门 (chūmén) and 出去 (chūqù).

• 出门 (chūmén): To leave one's home/base. The focus is on leaving the primary location where you live or are staying (like a hotel). The `门 (mén)` implies the main door of this home base.
• 出去 (chūqù): To go out (from anywhere). The focus is on exiting the speaker's current, immediate location. The direction is away from the speaker. It can be used for leaving a classroom, an office, a restaurant, or even just a room in a house.

Rule of Thumb: If you are leaving the building you live in, 出门 is the most natural choice. If you are just leaving the room you're in to go to another room, or leaving a cafe to go into the street, you would use 出去.

• Correct Usage:
  • 我早上八点出门上班。 (I leave home at 8 AM to go to work.)
  • 教室里太热了，我们出去吧。 (It's too hot in the classroom, let's go outside.)
• Incorrect Usage:
  • (Inside a classroom) 老师，我能出门一下吗？ (Incorrect) → Teacher, can I leave the home for a moment?
  • (Inside a classroom) 老师，我能出去一下吗？ (Correct) → Teacher, can I go out for a moment?

• 出去 (chūqù) - To go out. The most closely related term, used for exiting any immediate location (not just home).
• 回家 (huíjiā) - To go home; to return home. The direct antonym of 出门.
• 离开 (líkāi) - To leave; to depart from. A more general verb that can be used for leaving a place, a city, or even a person.
• 上班 (shàngbān) - To go to work. One of the most common reasons to 出门.
• 下班 (xiàbān) - To get off work. The action that often precedes `回家 (huíjiā)`.
• 逛街 (guàngjiē) - To go shopping; to window shop; to stroll down the street. A popular leisure activity that requires one to 出门.
• 旅行 (lǚxíng) - To travel; to take a trip. A form of 出门 that involves being away from home for an extended period.
• 门口 (ménkǒu) - Doorway; entrance. The physical place where the action of 出门 occurs.