Kanji: 外 Outside
Looks like an axe cutting a tree down outside.
JLPT N5: 49 / 100 | Japanese Grade 2 (Elementary) | 5 Strokes
外
On: ガイ; ゲ
Kun: そと; ほか; はずす; はずれる
Meaning: outside; exterior; external
The kanji 外 is a fundamental character used to express concepts related to the exterior or things outside of a certain boundary.
Kanji Parts
- 夕 (evening)
- 卜 (divination)
Kanji Mnemonics
Imagine stepping outside in the evening (夕) to divine (卜) the future by looking at the stars. You need to be outside to see the sky clearly, thus reinforcing the meaning of 外 as "outside" or "external."
Stroke Order:
Examples:
- 外国人 foreigner
- 外国語 foreign language
Example Sentence:
外で遊ぼう。
Let's play outside.
- 外 outside
- で at (outside)
- 遊ぼう let’s play
外は寒いです。
It's cold outside.
私は外国に行きたいです。
I want to go to a foreign country.
彼は外見が怖いですが、優しい人です。
He looks scary on the outside, but he's a kind person.
