Japanese Conversation · Level 12
90 words
Japanese word
外
Pronunciation
Romajisoto
Meaning
- nounoutside
Example
外に出ます。soto ni de ma su
I go outside.
More examples
外で遊びます。soto de aso bi ma su
I play outside.
天気がいいので、子どもたちは外で遊びます。ten ki ga i i no de ko do mo ta chi wa soto de aso bi ma su
The weather is nice, so the children play outside.
Core concept
Marks the area beyond the boundary of a place, object, or group.
Common phrases
外にsoto ni
outside
外でsoto de
outside
外からsoto ka ra
from outside
Similar words
外側sotogawa: The outer part of something, away from its center or inner part.
外部gaibu: The area or part of an organization or object that is not inside it.
屋外okugai: The open space outside buildings and other structures.
Definition in Japanese
ある範囲や場所の境界の内側に含まれない部分。a ru han i ya ba sho no kyō kai no uchi gawa ni fuku ma re na i bu bun
Word origin
外 (soto) is a native Japanese word for the part beyond an inner area, while its historical word formation is not securely known.
Usage tips
- 外 (soto) can describe people outside a group, not only places beyond a physical boundary, and it contrasts with 内 (uchi) when Japanese describes an in-group and an out-group.
Opposites
- 内uchiinsidenoun