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How to say 'Outside' in Japanese | 外側

Wondering how to say 'Outside' in Japanese? You're in the right place!

The Japanese word for Outside is 'Sotogawa', written as 外側 in Japanese.'Outside' in hiragana is そとがわ.

    word

    外側

    Meaning

    Outside

    Reading

    そとがわ

    sotogawa

    Kanji

    外Outside 側Side

    Explanation

    The Japanese noun '外側 (そとがわ)' refers to the 'outside' or 'outer side' of something. It is used to describe the external part or surface of an object, area, or structure. For example: the outside of the box is red「箱の外側は赤い」(はこのそとがわはあかい). Please clean the outside of the window「窓の外側を掃除してください」(まどのそとがわをそうじしてください). This word is often used in contrast to '内側 (うちがわ)', which means 'inside' or 'inner side'. It can also be used metaphorically to describe external appearances or superficial aspects.

    Part Of Speech

    noun

    Kanji JLPT

    N3

    Kanji Grade

    4

    Frequency

    4972

    Composition

    kanji

    Handwriting

Kanji in the Word 外側

This word contains 2 kanji characters:

  • kanji

    外

    Meaning

    Outside

  • kanji

    側

    Meaning

    Side

Words Related to 外側 Through the Kanji 外

These 29 Words contain the Kanji 外 as well.

  • word

    外

    Meaning

    Outside

  • word

    以外

    Meaning

    Except

  • word

    外人

    Meaning

    Foreigner

  • word

    外国人

    Meaning

    Foreigner

  • word

    外国語

    Meaning

    Foreign language

  • word

    外国

    Meaning

    Foreign country

  • word

    海外

    Meaning

    Overseas

  • word

    外す

    Meaning

    Remove, Miss

  • word

    意外

    Meaning

    Unexpected

  • word

    外出

    Meaning

    Outing

  • word

    外食

    Meaning

    Eating out

  • word

    外来語

    Meaning

    Loanword

  • word

    国外

    Meaning

    Abroad

  • word

    外部

    Meaning

    Outside

  • word

    外交

    Meaning

    Diplomacy, Foreign relations

  • word

    案外

    Meaning

    Unexpectedly

  • word

    例外

    Meaning

    Exception

  • word

    外相

    Meaning

    Foreign minister

  • word

    外観

    Meaning

    Appearance

  • word

    外貨

    Meaning

    Foreign currency

  • word

    外れる

    Meaning

    Detach, Miss

  • word

    外務省

    Meaning

    Foreign affairs

  • word

    外科

    Meaning

    Surgery

  • word

    外れ

    Meaning

    End, Miss

  • word

    郊外

    Meaning

    Suburbs

  • word

    町外れ

    Meaning

    Outskirts

  • word

    外務

    Meaning

    Foreign affairs

  • word

    外来

    Meaning

    Foreign

  • word

    内外

    Meaning

    Inside outside, Domestic foreign

Words Related to 外側 Through the Kanji 側

These 9 Words contain the Kanji 側 as well.

  • word

    側

    Meaning

    Side

  • word

    向こう側

    Meaning

    Other side

  • word

    側面

    Meaning

    Side, Aspect

  • word

    内側

    Meaning

    Inside

  • word

    片側

    Meaning

    One side

  • word

    右側

    Meaning

    Right side

  • word

    左側

    Meaning

    Left side

  • word

    両側

    Meaning

    Both sides

  • word

    西側

    Meaning

    West side

Learn the Word 外側

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What does 'Sotogawa' (外側) mean?

'Sotogawa' means 'Outside' .

To help you master this word, here's an interactive lesson where you'll practice its readings and meanings.