“民间外交”常见的英文表达是 “people-to-people diplomacy” 或 “citizen diplomacy”。
people-to-people diplomacy：强调普通民众之间的交流与互动在外交领域所发挥的作用，突出了民间层面在外交关系中的重要性。例如：People-to-people diplomacy has played an increasingly significant role in promoting international understanding and cooperation.（民间外交在促进国际理解与合作方面发挥着日益重要的作用。）
citizen diplomacy：侧重于公民个人作为外交主体，积极参与国际交流和对外关系活动，以增进国家间关系。例如：Citizen diplomacy can help bridge cultural gaps and foster friendly ties between nations.（公民外交有助于弥合文化差异，促进国家间的友好关系。 ）