Waijia
/ˈwaɪ.dʒiː.ɑː/noun
A Chinese martial-arts classification referring to “external” training or styles, traditionally contrasted with neijia, or “internal” schools.
Did you know?Waijia is not simply a modern fighting category: Chinese martial-arts traditions historically debated whether mastery came primarily through visible physical conditioning or inward cultivation of breath, intention, and energy.
Etymological Timeline
Classical Chinese
Chinese
外
“Outside, external, foreign”
Classical Chinese
Chinese
家
“Family, household, school, or lineage”
Pre-modern Chinese usage
Chinese
外家
“An external school or outer lineage, contrasted with an internal one”
20th Century
Mandarin
wàijiā
“A category of Chinese martial arts emphasizing external physical training”
Modern English
English
waijia
“A loanword used in English-language discussions of Chinese martial arts for external styles or training”
Explore more surprising origins