Translation guide
The English word "outside" can refer to a physical location, the external surface of something, or a figurative state of being excluded. This guide covers the most common and natural ways to express these meanings in Japanese.
Referring to the area not inside a building or enclosed space; outdoors.
The most common and general word for 'outside' as a location. Used in everyday speech.
外で遊ぼう。
Let's play outside.
It's cold outside today.
A more formal or written term for 'outdoors', often used in signs or official contexts.
Eating and drinking outside is prohibited.
Refers to open-air or outdoor settings, often for activities like concerts or camping.
I went to an outdoor concert.
Referring to the outer side or surface of an object.
Being excluded from a group, organization, or defined area.
Can also mean 'outside' in a social sense, often used with particles like の or に.
He is outside the group.
Literally 'outside person', meaning an outsider or someone not part of a group.
Idiom meaning 'left out of the loop' or 'excluded from the group', literally 'outside the mosquito net'.
Beyond a specified time period or limit.
Used with time words to mean 'outside of' a period. Often replaced by more natural expressions in Japanese.
We cannot answer the phone outside business hours.
Means 'except' or 'outside of', often used to exclude something from a category.
It's not crowded outside of weekdays.
Moving or directing something to the outside.
In many cases, English uses 'outside' where Japanese uses a different structure. For example, 'outside the box' (creative thinking) is not translated literally; use 固定観念にとらわれない (not bound by fixed ideas).
外 read as そと means physical outside. 外 read as ほか means 'other' or 'another'. Don't confuse them.
建物の外面を修復する。
Repair the outside of the building.
部外者は立ち入り禁止です。
Outsiders are not allowed to enter.
Even though it was an important discussion, I was left out.