► 副助詞
外 [(2)ほか] meaning: other than rank: 2
☆ もう諦める外どうしようもないだろう ⇨ There’s nothing we can do other than giving up
► 名詞
外 [(1)そと] meaning: outside rank: 1
☆ 今日は一日中外に出なかった ⇨ I didn’t go outside all day today
☆ 外は寒い ⇨ Outside is cold
☆ 情報が外に漏れた疑いがある ⇨ There is a suspicion that the information has leaked outside
外 [(2)ほか] meaning: outside rank: 3
☆ 思いの外簡単だった ⇨ It was easier than I’d thought
► 接尾辞
外 [がい] meaning: outside rank: 1
☆ それは予想外の結果だ ⇨ That’s is an outside-prediction, unexpected, result
☆ それは問題外だ ⇨ That’s out of question
☆ それは私の専門外です ⇨ That’s out of my specialty, expertise
☆ 時間外受付 ⇨ Out-of-hour, after-hour, reception
More examples:
- 医者には当たり外れがある ⇨ Doctors are hit and miss. There are good doctors and there are bad doctors
- これ意外と良いんじゃないですか？ ⇨ This is unexpectedly good, isn’t it?
- 樹脂は紫外線に当たると劣化する ⇨ Resins will deteriorate when exposed to UV
- 外国に異邦人として暮らす ⇨ Live in a foreign country as a foreigner
- 外国人は料亭で突き出しが出されて戸惑うことがある ⇨ Foreigners often get confused when appetizers are served in Japanese restaurants (which they didn’t order)
- この辺には多くの外国人が在住している ⇨ Many foreigners live in this area
- その学校は外国人には門を閉ざしている ⇨ The school has its gate closed for, not accepting, foreigners
- 両国間に外交関係は無い ⇨ The two countries don’t have a diplomatic relationship
- 野外コンサート ⇨ An outdoor concert
- 何か外が騒がしい ⇨ The outside is really noisy
- 日本語の「引き籠もり」は最近外国でもそのまま通じる ⇨ Recently Japanese word “hikikomori (= social withdrawal)” is understood as it is even in foreign countries
- 話は意外な方向に展開した ⇨ The story has developed in an unexpected direction
- こんな時間に電話をしてくるなんて常識外れだ ⇨ It is a lack of common sense to call someone at this ungodly hour
- 多数の優秀な人材が海外に流出した ⇨ Many talents have been lost overseas (in brain drain)
- あいつは生意気だが意外と可愛い所もある ⇨ He is really cocky but has some unexpectedly likable side too