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外国語 (がいこくご) Japanese meaning | Kotomora

外がい国こく語ご

が

い

こ

く

ご

Common wordJLPTN1

Meanings

1

noun

foreign language

Refers to any language other than one's native language. Commonly used in educational and everyday contexts.

彼かれは三みっつの外がい国こく語ごを話はなせる。
He can speak three foreign languages.
外がい国こく語ごを学まなぶのは楽たのしい。
Learning a foreign language is fun.

Kanji

外outside
国country
語word, speech, language

Similar words

母ぼ国こく語ご
母国語 means 'mother tongue' or 'native language', while 外国語 refers to any language that is not one's native language.
第だい二に言げん語ご
第二言語 is a 'second language', often acquired after the first language, and may or may not be a foreign language depending on the environment.

Etymology

Compound of 外国 (foreign country) and 語 (language).