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外相 (がいしょう) Japanese meaning | Kotomora
Common word JLPT N2 Freq. Frequency Top 20,000 Meanings 1
noun
foreign minister
A political and news term for the cabinet minister in charge of foreign affairs; often corresponds to 外務大臣 in Japan or the equivalent post in another country.
東とう
京きょう
で
会かい
談だん
し
た
。
The foreign ministers of the two countries held talks in Tokyo.
Kanji 相 inter-, mutual, together Similar words 外がい 務む 大だい 臣じん The full official title in Japan; 外相 is the shorter news-style term meaning the same role.
首しゅ 相しょう Means prime minister, not foreign minister; both are political titles ending in 相.
外がい 務む 省しょう The Ministry of Foreign Affairs as an institution, whereas 外相 refers to the minister heading foreign affairs.
Etymology Sino-Japanese compound from 外, associated with foreign or outside matters, and 相, used in government titles for a minister or high official; it functions as a concise term for a foreign minister.
