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.
Let's play outside.
今日は外が寒い。
It's cold outside today.
A more formal or written term for 'outdoors', often used in signs or official contexts.
屋外での飲食は禁止されています。
Eating and drinking outside is prohibited.
Refers to open-air or outdoor settings, often for activities like concerts or camping.
野外コンサートに行った。
I went to an outdoor concert.
Referring to the outer side or surface of an object.
Means 'the outside' or 'exterior' of something, emphasizing the outer side.
箱の外側に名前を書いてください。
Please write your name on the outside of the box.
Refers to the outer surface or exterior appearance, often used in technical or formal contexts.
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.
彼はグループの外にいる。
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'.
大事な話なのに、蚊帳の外に置かれた。
Even though it was an important discussion, I was left out.
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.
営業時間外は電話に出られません。
We cannot answer the phone outside business hours.
Means 'except' or 'outside of', often used to exclude something from a category.
平日以外は混んでいません。
It's not crowded outside of weekdays.
Moving or directing something to the outside.
The adverbial form of 外, meaning 'to the outside' or 'outward'.
猫を外に出してください。
Please let the cat outside.
Similar to 外に, emphasizing direction toward the outside.
外へ出ましょう。
Let's go 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.
Outsiders are not allowed to enter.