外 — JLPT N5 Kanji | Nihongo Pass

外

JLPT N5

Kun-yomi (Japanese reading)

そと、ほか、はず.す、はず.れる、と

On-yomi (Chinese reading)

ガイ、ゲ

Meaning

Stroke Count

5 strokes

Related Vocabulary

外国 foreign country 外国人 foreigner, foreign national 海外 overseas, abroad 案外 unexpectedly, surprisingly, contrary to expectations

📝 How to Remember

With 5 strokes, 「外」is easy to write once you learn the stroke order. Practice writing it 5 times daily until it becomes automatic.

⚠️ Teacher's Note — On-yomi vs Kun-yomi

「外」has both On-yomi (ガイ、ゲ) and Kun-yomi (そと、ほか、はず.す、はず.れる、と). On-yomi is typically used in compound words (two kanji together), while Kun-yomi appears when the kanji stands alone or with hiragana.

🎯 JLPT N5 — How It's Tested

もんだい1 (Kanji Reading) & もんだい2 (Kanji Writing)

「外」typically appears in もんだい1, where you choose the correct reading, and もんだい2, where you choose the correct kanji for a hiragana word. Make sure you can recognize it both ways.

❓ Frequently Asked Questions

How do you read the kanji 「外」?+

On-yomi: ガイ、ゲ. Kun-yomi: そと、ほか、はず.す、はず.れる、と.

What does 「外」mean in Japanese?+

「外」means "null". It is a JLPT N5 kanji — one of the most essential characters for beginners.

How many strokes does 「外」have?+

「外」is written with 5 strokes.

Is 「外」on the JLPT N5?+

Yes, 「外」is an official JLPT N5 kanji. Knowing all ~110 N5 kanji is essential for passing the exam.

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