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外
外 (readings: がい, そと, ほか; Japanese kanji) means “outside”. It is a Grade 2 Kyōiku kanji, taught in year 2 of Japanese elementary school, and appears in words such as 外国 (foreign country).
What does 外 mean?
| Kanji | 外 |
|---|---|
| Meaning | outside |
| Readings | がい, そと, ほか |
| Grade | Grade 2 (Easy) |
| Curriculum | Kyōiku kanji · Japanese elementary school |
How to read 外
外 is read がい or そと or ほか depending on the word.
Example words with 外
| Example | 外国 (foreign country) |
|---|
Practice writing 外 — free
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Updated: 2026-07-14