Canney (US)

"Laowai" refers to people who come from out of China. It's a common word for Chinese people to use. For Chinese, they think it is normal, because it is just a name to describe a person that is not Chinese. I don't mind this word, but I do mind the gestures or actions used when they say "laowai". When a foreigner walks on the street, there is no need to keep pointing at them or to draw attention to them when shouting "laowai" out. It's quite rude. Doesn't matter if it is because of curiosity or what, I think we humans should respect each other.

Laowai2 (UK)

As anyone can see from my nickname the term does not bother me. I don't remember being addressed as laowai but I hear it said. When people speak to my wife I am usually referred to as "your laowai".

MisterPanda (France)

It doesn't happen too often to our face - what happens the most is people screaming (literally) "laowai" in the street or sometimes people will talk to my wife and mention me as laowai. At first it was funny, I kind of felt like a rock star. Then I wanted to be left alone, after all I'm just another guy! The one thing that really bothers me though is when I am in France and I hear Chinese calling French people "laowai".

Davidtochina (US)

On one of our earlier trips to China, my wife and I were walking from our home there when she heard a small child shout, "Mum! Laowai!" My wife looked and saw the child pointing at us. She told me and I wasn't the least offended, in fact I got a chuckle out of it and it is a story I have told many a time.

Fatdragon (UK)

Some people are oversensitive about terms which define them. I incorporate the term laowai in the name of one of my email boxes so I certainly don't consider the term offensive. It's how it's used that can make it offensive e.g. "Effing lao wai!" could be considered offensive unless it was coming from someone like an Australian where it would probably be considered a term of endearment. Personally, as a laowai, I am who I am. Labels will not change who I am. I just hope that people are handing out the correct labels in my direction. Fatdragon - proud to be a laowai.

Xpat （US）

I guess here in the States we don't say "foreigner" much as a general term to use to describe others; usually it's more specific, like Mexican, or French, or Chinese or Vietnamese. And I do think that, for the folks who just say "foreigner", it's usually said with some disdain…

futsanglung (UK)

I just tell them I am not a laowai, I am a Shanghai person, that is true - my Chinese Residence Permit and my driving license say so.

Ted (US)

5 years ago, I was offended when someone pointing at me yelled out loud: 'Look! Laowai!'. It really depends on how this term is spoken: it can be just a statement, or an insult. These days I just don't care, after all, I am a foreigner. When it really gets to me occasionally, I yell back 'lao zhong' (Old Chinese) and glare at them. That usually stops any further comments.

Ratfink (Australia)

When I first visited the Mainland in 1978 people would point and say "Laowai" as there were so few Caucasians in China. Hong Kong in the mid 60s was the same, once you got out of the tourist areas, many times people would say "gweilo". I've found that smiling and being polite stops most people from saying laowai, though I use the term to describe myself a lot, and also gweilo when in Cantonese areas.

Jona (US)

It's not rude but it isn't polite either. 'Non-Chinese' outside of China are referred to as 'laowais' so it basically refers to you an 'outsider' and while I do not believe it is meant with any insult it does label you as an outsider in a place you may have chosen to make your home.