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📕 rednote ID(小红书号)：3881567312

Foreign Definition: From Another Country & Unfamiliar Uses (2 meaning)

Meaning 1：from another country (foreign)

foreign 🔊

/ˈfɔːrɪn/

adj.

coming from or belonging to a different country or place.

Foreign travel scene with airport departure board and suitcase

from another country 🔊

➕

/frəm əˈnʌðər ˈkʌntri/

adj.

Describes something that originates from or belongs to a different nation or place outside one's own.

📁 Category：Transportation & Travel 🔖 Level：Intermediate

📘 Details & Usage

📖 Root Explanation

From Latin 'foris' (outside) + Old French '-ain' suffix; literally 'outside the realm'.

💡 Mnemonic

Think 'for (outside) + reign (rule)' → something from beyond your ruler's land.

📖 Example

My friend is studying a foreign language to prepare for her trip to Japan. 🔊 My friend is studying a foreign language to prepare for her trip to Japan.

🔗 Collocations

foreign policy – a government's strategy in dealing with other nations

foreign exchange – the conversion of one currency into another

foreign investment – capital invested in a country by non-residents

🔄 Synonyms

overseas (adj.) – relating to countries across the sea; abroad

international (adj.) – existing or happening between nations

alien (adj.) – belonging to a foreign country or culture

🚫 Antonyms

domestic (adj.) – of or relating to one's own country

native (adj.) – originating from a particular place

local (adj.) – relating to a particular area or neighborhood

🌱 Derivatives

foreigner (n.) – a person from another country

foreignness (n.) – the quality of being foreign

foreignly (adv.) – in a manner characteristic of a foreign country

📖 Cultural Story

Originates from Latin 'foris' (outside), passed through Old French 'forein', meaning 'outside one's own country'. In medieval English, it also described things unfamiliar or strange.

Meaning 2：unfamiliar or strange (foreign)

foreign 🔊

/ˈfɔːrɪn/

adj.

strange or not known, different from what you are used to.

Foreign unfamiliar kitchen gadget with puzzled person

unfamiliar or strange 🔊

➕

/ʌnˈfæmɪliər ɔːr streɪndʒ/

adj.

Describes something that is not known, not typical, or not part of one's usual experience.

📁 Category：Behaviors & Actions 🔖 Level：Intermediate

📘 Details & Usage

📖 Example

The idea of working from home was completely foreign to him, as he had always gone to an office. 🔊 The idea of working from home was completely foreign to him, as he had always gone to an office.

🔗 Collocations

foreign concept – an idea that is unfamiliar or hard to accept

foreign to someone – not typical of someone's character or experience

completely foreign – totally unknown or alien

🔄 Synonyms

unfamiliar (adj.) – not known or recognized

alien (adj.) – strange and unfamiliar; not belonging

exotic (adj.) – different in a striking or fascinating way

🚫 Antonyms

familiar (adj.) – well known from long or close association

common (adj.) – occurring, found, or done often; normal

typical (adj.) – having the distinctive qualities of a particular type

🌱 Derivatives

foreignness (n.) – the quality of being unfamiliar or strange

foreignly (adv.) – in a strange or unfamiliar manner