The most common Chinese term for foreigner. Also used extensively by
Westerners,
Expats, living in China when talking about other Westerners. Before 1980s it was pejorative, now its neutral or only slightly pejorative. From lao, old, respectful way of addressing ppl and
wai, outside/foreign
Only laowais
hang out at that shitty
Shanghai bar.
I had to pay a high laowai
prize for this stuff.