外文 (wàiwén) — use 外语 when referring to the study or use of foreign languages in general, while 外文 emphasizes written texts or documents in foreign languages.

Think of '外' as meaning 'outside' and '语' as meaning 'language'. Together, they form 'outside language', which can help you remember that 外语 refers to languages that are foreign or outside one's own.

Be careful to use 外语 specifically for languages that are not local or native. A common mistake is to confuse it with 语言 (yǔyán), which is a more general term for language. It is typically used in formal and academic contexts.

Although 外语 is not included in the official HSK levels, it connects to terms related to language learning, such as 学习 (xuéxí, study), which is common in lower levels. Focus on practicing this term in sentences about language preferences or studies.

In China, learning 外语 is highly valued, particularly English, as it is seen as essential for global communication and career opportunities. Many students are required to learn a foreign language in school, often from a young age.

Learners often mistakenly use 外语 to refer only to English, but it applies to all foreign languages. For example, saying '我学外语是英语' (I study foreign language is English) should be corrected to '我学外语，包括英语' (I study foreign languages, including English).