外がい相しょう

が

い

しょ

う

Common wordJLPTN2Freq.FrequencyTop 20,000

Meanings

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.

外がい相しょうは記き者しゃ会かい見けんで新あたらしい制せい裁さいを発はっ表ぴょうした。
The foreign minister announced new sanctions at a press conference.
両りょう国こくの外がい相しょうが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.

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Usage patterns

〈人ひと〉が外がい相しょうに就しゅう任にんするfor someone to be appointed foreign minister
彼かれは先せん月げつ、外がい相しょうに就しゅう任にんした。
He was appointed foreign minister last month.
外がい相しょうを辞じ任にんするto resign as foreign minister
外がい相しょうはスキャンダルの責せき任にんを取とって辞じ任にんした。
The foreign minister resigned, taking responsibility for the scandal.

Kanji

外outside
相inter-, mutual, together

Related words

外がい務む大だい臣じんN2
外務大臣 is the full official Japanese title for the post, while 外相 is the shorter news-style term used in headlines and reports.

Don't confuse with

首しゅ相しょうN4
首相 means prime minister, not foreign minister, though both titles end in 相 and are easily confused in reading.
外がい傷しょう
外傷 (external injury) and 外相 (Foreign Minister) are pronounced identically but refer to completely unrelated concepts, one medical and one political.

Word family

外がい相しょう会かい談だん
foreign ministerial conference; meeting of foreign ministers
首しゅ相しょう兼けん外がい相しょう
prime minister concurrently serving as foreign minister

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.