Meaning and Usage
The word "外来" (がいらい) primarily refers to "outpatient" in a medical context, indicating patients who visit a hospital or clinic without being admitted. It also means "imported" or "foreign-origin," often used in terms like "外来語" (loanwords) or "外来種" (introduced species).
Common Collocations
- 外来患者 (がいらいかんじゃ): outpatient; patients visiting without hospitalization.
- 外来診療 (がいらいしんりょう): outpatient medical care.
- 外来語 (がいらいご): loanwords; words borrowed from other languages.
- 外来種 (がいらいしゅ): non-native species introduced from abroad.
Register and Nuance
"外来" is a formal term often used in medical, scientific, or academic contexts. When referring to patients, it is neutral and factual. When used for loanwords or species, it emphasizes foreign origin.
Common Mistakes
Learners sometimes confuse "外来" with "外国" (foreign country) or "外部" (external). Remember that "外来" specifically relates to things coming from outside into a system or place, such as patients visiting a hospital or words/species introduced from abroad.