外

outside

JLPT N5 Grade 2 5 strokes

Kun'yomi: そと・ほか
On'yomi: ガイ・ゲ

外 means "outside". It is a JLPT N5 kanji written in 5 strokes. It is read そと・ほか in native Japanese words (kun'yomi) and ガイ・ゲ in compounds (on'yomi). Japanese schoolchildren learn it in grade 2.

Example word

外国がいこく

foreign country

外 in example sentences

外そとに出でろ。

Soto ni dero.

Get out.
外そとへ出でたい。

Soto e detai.

I want to go outside.
外そとに行いくの？

Soto ni iku no?

Are you going outside?

Example sentences from the Tatoeba Project, licensed CC-BY 2.0 FR.

Stroke order & writing

Want more? Practice writing from memory. Stroke-order and animation sources are on our credits page.

Words that use 外

Common questions

What does the kanji 外 mean?: 外 means "outside". It is a JLPT N5 kanji.
How many strokes does 外 have?: 外 is written in 5 strokes.
How is 外 read?: It is read そと・ほか in native Japanese words (kun'yomi) and ガイ・ゲ in compounds (on'yomi).
What JLPT level is 外?: 外 is a JLPT N5 kanji.

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