外 (wài): This character means “outside,” “outer,” or “external.” You see it in words like 外国 (wàiguó - foreign country) and 外面 (wàimiàn - outside).
向 (xiàng): This character means “towards,” “to face,” or “direction.” It indicates orientation or movement in a certain direction.
When combined, 外向 (wàixiàng) literally means “facing outwards” or “directed externally.” This is a beautifully intuitive way to describe the core of extroversion: a personality that is oriented towards the people and activities in the outside world.
In modern China, “外向” is a widely understood and frequently used term, largely mirroring the Western psychological concept of extroversion. It is generally considered a positive and desirable trait, especially in fields like business, sales, marketing, and media, where social skills are paramount.
However, its value can be more nuanced when compared to traditional Chinese culture. Historically, Chinese philosophy (like Confucianism and Daoism) often prized qualities more associated with introversion (内向 - nèixiàng): being reserved, a good listener, thoughtful, and modest. Overtly “外向” behavior could sometimes be perceived as superficial, boastful, or lacking in substance.
Comparison to Western “Extrovert”:
While the meaning is very similar, the cultural “default” can differ. In many Western cultures, especially American culture, extroversion is often seen as the ideal social standard.
In China, there is a more balanced appreciation. While being “外向” is great for networking and a modern, fast-paced life, being “内向” (nèixiàng - introverted) is also highly respected and seen as a sign of depth, stability, and intelligence. It's not uncommon for people to proudly describe themselves as “内向”.
Therefore, calling someone “外向” is a compliment, but it doesn't carry the same weight of “socially superior” that “extrovert” might imply in some Western contexts. There's room for both personality types to be equally valued.
“外向” is used frequently in everyday conversation and professional settings.
Socially: People use it to describe their friends, family members, and themselves. It's a common topic when getting to know someone.
Professionally: Job descriptions, particularly for customer-facing roles, will often list “性格外向” (xìnggé wàixiàng - has an extroverted personality) as a requirement. It's also a very common question in job interviews: “你觉得自己的性格是外向还是内向?” (Nǐ juéde zìjǐ de xìnggé shì wàixiàng háishì nèixiàng? - Do you think your personality is more extroverted or introverted?).
Dating and Relationships: It's a key descriptor on dating profiles and a way to talk about compatibility. For example, an introverted person might say they are looking for a more “外向” partner to balance them out.
Its connotation is almost always neutral to positive.