外 — Outside
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Start 7-Day Free Trial →Visual Radical Families for 外 (Outside)
These kanjis share the same recurring visual building block in Shibashi's Japanese kanji mnemonics. Tap any small tile to compare its story:
Common Japanese Words with 外 (Outside)
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Everything from (以) the outside (外) of a certain group is excluded, meaning with the exception of.
Going outside (外) your country by crossing the sea (海) means going overseas.
When you mix (交) and interact with countries on the outside (外), you are practicing diplomacy.
Outside (外) expressed as a noun.
Frequently Asked Questions About 外 (Outside)
What is the best kanji mnemonic for 外 (Outside)?
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The Shibashi Japanese kanji mnemonic for 外 ("Outside", read as がい) is: Outside his tent, a chill gay (げ) guy (がい) with a sore toe (と or そと), is doing yoga with his hot cat (ほか)... Using visual kanji mnemonics that combine the character's radicals, meaning, and reading into a single illustrated scene makes 外 effortless to recall.
What does the kanji 外 mean and how is it read in Japanese?
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The Japanese kanji 外 means "Outside". Its primary reading is がい (On'yomi: がい, げ; Kun'yomi: そと, ほか, と). Our Japanese kanji mnemonics tie the reading directly into the visual story so you remember both the meaning and pronunciation together.
What are common Japanese words and compounds with 外?
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Essential Japanese vocabulary words containing 外 include: 以外 (いがい - except, other than), 海外 (かいがい - foreign, abroad, overseas), 外交 (がいこう - diplomacy), 外 (ほか - other place, the rest).
How do Japanese kanji mnemonics help you remember 外 (Outside) faster?
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Traditional rote stroke repetition fades quickly. Shibashi's Japanese kanji mnemonics turn 外 (Outside) and its shared visual radical family into memorable characters and objects, paired with smart Spaced Repetition (SRS) and native audio so the memory sticks permanently.