Japanese Conversation · Level 131
60 words
Japanese word
郊外
Pronunciation
Romajikōgai
Meaning
- nounsuburb
Example
私は郊外に住んでいます。watashi wa kō gai ni su n de i ma su
I live in the suburbs.
More examples
郊外の店は都心より広いです。kō gai no mise wa to shin yo ri hiro i de su
Stores in the suburbs are larger than those downtown.
Core concept
It describes the settled area that surrounds a city beyond its busy center.
Common phrases
郊外に住むkō gai ni su mu
live in the suburbs
郊外へ引っ越すkō gai e hi kko su
move to the suburbs
郊外の住宅kō gai no jū taku
suburban housing
Similar words
近郊kinkō: A place near a city that may include its outer edge and nearby countryside.
Definition in Japanese
都市の中心から離れた、住宅や生活施設が集まる周辺地域。to shi no chū shin ka ra hana re ta jū taku ya sei katsu shi setsu ga atsu ma ru shū hen chi iki
Word origin
郊外 (kōgai) combines 郊 (kō, "outskirts") with 外 (gai, "outside"), giving the sense of the area outside a city.
Usage tips
- A person can live in a suburb, but English commonly describes the general area with the plural suburbs.
Other meanings
- outskirtsnoun
Opposites
- 都心toshincity centernoun