Word
外方
Meaning in Englishlook (or turn) the other way
Animated kanji stroke order
Word context
What it means
外方 means the exterior or outward side or aspect of something; it refers to the external direction or surface rather than the interior.
Main meanings
- Refers to the outer side or surface of an object or space, especially in formal or technical writing
- Used to denote the external party or outward orientation in literary or historical contexts
- Applies to geometric or spatial descriptions indicating the exterior direction
How to use it
Predominantly used in formal, literary, or technical contexts to indicate the exterior side or outward direction; rarely used in casual speech. Examples: 外方の位置を図に示す。古典文献では外方を指す語として現れる。
Variants and close terms
- 外部 gaibu (external part)
- 外側 sotogawa (outer side)
- 内部 naibu (inner part)
Composition
- 外: outside, exterior
- 方: direction, side
- Together they form the meaning of the exterior-facing direction or surface
Etymology
on'yomi gai + hō, a straightforward Sino-Japanese compound reading; phonetic evolution follows standard kanji readings for compounds.
Word class
Noun (名詞)
Related words by kanji and components
N2
外～
gai～
foreign ~, outside ~
N2
外部
gaibu
the outside, external
N2
外科
geka
surgical department
N2
仕方がない
shikataganai
it can't be helped, it's inevitable
N2
正方形
seihoukei
square
N2
長方形
chouhoukei
rectangle, oblong
N2
方角
hougaku
direction, way
N2
方言
hougen
dialect
N2
方針
houshin
objective, plan, policy