Meaning and Usage
"海外" (かいがい) means "overseas" or "abroad" and is commonly used to refer to foreign countries outside of Japan. It is a noun and often appears in contexts related to travel, work, business, and international relations.
Common Contexts
You will frequently see "海外" in phrases like "海外旅行" (overseas travel), "海外勤務" (working overseas), and "海外市場" (overseas market). It is a neutral term suitable for both formal and informal situations.
Collocations and Patterns
- 海外旅行 (かいがいりょこう): overseas travel, used when talking about trips abroad.
- 海外勤務 (かいがいきんむ): working overseas, common in business contexts.
- 海外市場 (かいがいしじょう): overseas market, used in economics and business.
- 海外から (かいがいから): from overseas, indicating origin.
Usage Tips
When using "海外," it specifically refers to places outside Japan, so it is not used for domestic travel or locations. Learners sometimes confuse "海外" with "外国" (foreign country), but "海外" emphasizes the overseas aspect, often in a business or travel context. Remember to pair it with appropriate verbs like "行く" (go), "働く" (work), or "進出する" (expand into).
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"海外" is a standard word used in both spoken and written Japanese, suitable for news, business, and casual conversation.