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道Nihongo Path
外

外·outside

On-yomi
ガイ
Kun-yomi
そとほか

By Nihongo PathUpdated

Stroke order

Write it in this order; the numbers mark where each stroke starts.

5 strokes, numbered in writing order. Data: KanjiVG (CC BY-SA 3.0).

Common words

WordReadingMeaning
外そとoutside
外国がいこくforeign country
外国人がいこくじんforeigner
海外かいがいoverseas

Example sentences

  1. 外はとても寒いです。

    そとはとてもさむいです。

    It is very cold outside.

  2. 外国の音楽が好きです。

    がいこくのおんがくがすきです。

    I like foreign music.

Similar-looking kanji

Do not confuse these on the exam.

Common mistakes

  • Reading 外国 as *そとくに instead of がいこく

Memory aid

Picture it

In the evening (夕) a fortune stick (卜) is read outdoors: outside.

Vocabulary using this kanji

Quick check

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What does the kanji 外 mean?