Japanese word

よそ

Pronunciation

Romajiyoso

Meaning

  • nounsomewhere else

Example

よそへ行きます。yo so e i ki ma su

I will go somewhere else.

Illustration for よそ (somewhere else)

More examples

この町を出て、よそで暮らしたいです。ko no machi o de te yo so de ku ra shi ta i de su

I want to leave this town and live somewhere else.

Core concept

Points to a different place from the current location or from the place regarded as one's own.

Common phrases

  • よそへ行くyo so e i ku

    go somewhere else

Similar words

外soto: A place beyond the current location or the area treated as one's own.
ほかhoka: A different place or area from the one being discussed or considered.
向こうmukō: A place over there, usually across a distance or boundary.

Definition in Japanese

現在いる所や身内の所から離れた別の場所。gen zai i ru tokoro ya mi uchi no tokoro ka ra hana re ta betsu no ba sho

Word origin

よそ (yoso, "somewhere else") is an old Japanese noun, commonly written 余所 (yoso); its early history is not clear enough to support a dependable breakdown into separate modern word parts.

Usage tips

  • The phrase よそへ行く (yoso e iku) sounds natural when the destination is understood as somewhere other than the current place, while a specific destination uses its name instead.

Opposites

Word lists with this word