外貨
Meanings
1
foreign currency; foreign money; foreign exchange
Common financial term for money denominated in another country's currency. Often appears in compounds such as 外貨預金, 外貨準備, and 外貨建て.
I exchanged foreign currency into yen at the airport.
Foreign-currency deposits involve exchange-rate risk.
2
foreign goods; imported goods
Less common in modern everyday use; 輸入品 or 外国製品 is usually clearer for imported goods. This sense reflects 貨 as 'goods' rather than 'money'.
In old commercial materials, 外貨 can refer to imported goods.
Usage patterns
- 外貨を稼ぐto earn foreign currency
This company earns foreign currency through exports.
- 外貨を両替するto exchange (money) into foreign currency
I exchanged yen into foreign currency at the bank.
- 〈物〉を外貨で払うto pay for something in foreign currency
When traveling abroad, people often pay in foreign currency.
- 外貨を保有するto hold (a reserve of) foreign currency
The government holds a large amount of foreign currency reserves.