外国（がいこく、gaikoku）
- foreign country

The Japanese word 外国 ([外国]) means "foreign country" or "foreign countries." It refers to any country or region that is not Japan. It can also be used to describe something that is related to a foreign country, such as foreign culture or foreign people. The word implies a place, culture, or thing that is not native to the speaker or the context.

⚫︎外国へ旅行に行きたいです。 Translation: I want to travel to a foreign country. ⚫︎外国の文化に興味があります。 Translation: I am interested in foreign cultures. ⚫︎彼女は外国語を勉強しています。 Translation: She is studying a foreign language.

You use 外国 ([外国]) to talk about countries other than Japan, or things related to those countries. It can be used in various contexts, such as talking about travel, culture, language, or people. You can use it in formal and informal situations.

The word 外国 ([外国]) is written using kanji and hiragana. ・ Kanji: 外国 ・ Hiragana: がいこく There are no variations in the okurigana. The word is always written as 外国.

・ 海外 (かいがい): Overseas, abroad (general term) ・ 外国 (がいこく): [外国] (Specific term: a specific foreign country) ・ 異国 (いこく): Foreign country, exotic country (often has a romantic or distant connotation)

・ 国内 (こくない): Domestic, within the country ・ 自国 (じこく): One's own country

私は夏休みに外国へ行く予定です。 ・Translation: I plan to go to a foreign country during summer vacation. ・Explanation: This sentence uses 外国 ([外国]) to indicate the destination of travel.

彼は外国人との交流が好きです。 ・Translation: He likes interacting with foreigners. ・Explanation: This sentence uses 外国 to refer to people from a foreign country.

The word 外国 ([外国]) is a compound word: ・ 外 (がい): outside, foreign ・ 国 (こく/くに): country, nation Therefore, 外国 literally means "outside country."