Japanese word

外国

Pronunciation

Romajigaikoku

Meaning

  • nounforeign country

Example

私は外国へ行きたいです。watashi wa gai koku e i ki ta i de su

I want to go to a foreign country.

Illustration for 外国 (foreign country)

More examples

いつか外国へ行きたいです。i tsu ka gai koku e i ki ta i de su

I want to go to a foreign country someday.

私は将来、外国で働きたいです。watashi wa shō rai gai koku de hatara ki ta i de su

I want to work in a foreign country in the future.

Core concept

Marks a country as being outside the country currently treated as home or the place of reference.

Common phrases

  • 外国へ行くgai koku e i ku

    go to a foreign country

  • 外国に住むgai koku ni su mu

    live in a foreign country

  • 外国から来るgai koku ka ra ku ru

    come from a foreign country

Similar words

他国takoku: A country other than the one being considered or treated as one's own.
異国ikoku: A foreign country viewed as unfamiliar in language, culture, or customs.

Definition in Japanese

自分がいる国や基準とする国の外にある国。ji bun ga i ru kuni ya ki jun to su ru kuni no soto ni a ru kuni

Word origin

外国 (gaikoku) is a Sino-Japanese compound of 外 (gai, "outside") and 国 (koku, "country"), meaning a country outside the place of reference.

Usage tips

  • In everyday conversation, 外国 (gaikoku) commonly contrasts with 日本 (Nihon), so it often means a country other than Japan.

Opposites

Word lists with this word