外交（がいこう、gaikou）
- diplomacy

The Japanese word 外交 (がいこう) refers to "diplomacy," "foreign affairs," or "international relations." It encompasses the art and practice of conducting negotiations between representatives of different countries or organizations. This includes everything from formal treaties and trade agreements to informal discussions and cultural exchanges. The 外交 itself is the process of managing relationships with other nations.

⚫︎ 日本の外交政策 Translation: Japan's foreign policy ⚫︎ 外交官は多言語を話せる必要があります。 Translation: Diplomats need to be able to speak multiple languages. ⚫︎ 二国間の外交関係 Translation: Bilateral diplomatic relations

You use 外交 when discussing any topic related to a country's dealings with other nations. It can refer to the overall field of international relations, specific policies, the actions of diplomats, or the relationships between countries. You would use it in formal contexts such as news reports, political discussions, academic studies, and business settings. It is a very common word in the context of international relations and world politics.

外交 is written with the kanji. ・ Reading: がいこう (gaikou) ・ It is not typically written in hiragana or katakana unless the writer is intending to stylistically alter the tone of the writing. ・ There are no variations in the okurigana. The word itself is the core of the meaning, therefore the pronunciation will not be changed.

⚫︎ 国際関係 (こくさいかんけい) - International relations ⚫︎ 国際政治 (こくさいせいじ) - International politics ⚫︎ 外交政策 (がいこうせいさく) - Foreign policy

While there isn't a direct antonym for 外交, words related to domestic affairs or internal policies could be considered contrasting. ⚫︎ 内政 (ないせい) - Domestic affairs / Internal politics

アメリカと中国の間で重要な外交協議が行われました。 ・Translation: Important diplomatic talks were held between the United States and China. ・Explanation: This sentence describes a situation in which the two countries are negotiating diplomatic solutions.

彼は外交の分野で長年の経験があります。 ・Translation: He has many years of experience in the field of diplomacy. ・Explanation: This sentence describes the length of the person's experience, demonstrating its professional use.

The word 外交 is a compound word formed from two kanji: ・ 外 (がい) - "outside," "foreign" ・ 交 (こう) - "to mix," "to associate," or "to deal with" Combined, the characters mean "dealings with the outside" or "dealings with foreign countries," reflecting the core meaning of diplomacy and international relations.