The Meaning of gaishutsu [外出] In Japanese

外出
がいしゅつ
Romaji: gaishutsu N5

What does 外出 mean?

Translation and Meaning

going out, leaving the house

Definition

外出 means the act of leaving one’s home or a place to go somewhere else; used as a noun and in phrases with suru to indicate the action of going out, applicable in both casual conversation and formal writing.

Type

noun (suru-verb); 外出 is a noun that can take suru to form 外出する

Stroke Order

Meanings

  • 1) The act of leaving one’s home or location to go elsewhere, for errands, work, or social activities.
  • 2) A formal noun used in schedules, notices, or forms to indicate absence or departure from a place.
  • 3) In phrases it contrasts with staying at home, often appearing in contexts that emphasize movement or absence.

Etymology

外 (outside) + 出 (to exit) → gaishutsu; the reading comes from Sino-Japanese on’yomi, and the compound evolved to denote the action of moving from inside to outside in modern Japanese.

Origin

The concept is attested in classical Japanese and became a common, everyday term as a Sino-Japanese compound formed from kanji for ‘outside’ and ‘exit’; its usage expanded through periods of standardization and modern administration.

Composition

  • 外: outside, exterior
  • 出: to exit, to go out
  • Combination expresses the action of moving from indoors to the exterior, i.e., the act of going outside.

Usage

Used as a noun and with suru to form a verb, appropriate in formal writing, administrative notices, and casual speech. In workplaces and schools, it denotes that someone is away; in medical or travel contexts it indicates leaving a residence or building; expressions like 外出中 indicate current absence or activity outside the premises.
💡 Tips
Mnemonic: visualize 外 framing you on the outside and 出 as a person stepping through the boundary to enter the outside world, turning inside into outward movement with one smooth motion.

Variations

  • 外出する (gaishutsu suru) — to go out
  • 出かける (dekakeru) — to go out (more general, everyday verb)
  • 在宅 (zaitaku) — at home, opposite concept
  • 不在 (fuzai) — absence, away from a location

Example Phrases

  • 雨の日は 外出を 本当に 控える に限る
    Ame no hi wa gaishutsu o hontou ni hikaeru ni kagiru
    On rainy days, it’s best to really refrain from going out.
    Lista:
    • 雨の日は (Ame no hi wa) – on rainy days
    • 外出を (gaishutsu o) – going out
    • 本当に (hontou ni) – really
    • 控える (hikaeru) – to refrain
    • に限る (ni kagiru) – to be best
    Uses 「に限る」 to express ‘it’s best to ~’ or ‘to limit to ~’. 限る means ‘to limit; restrict’.
  • 雨が降っていたが、敢えて外出した。
    Ame ga futte ita ga, aete gaishutsu shita.
    Although it was raining, I deliberately went out.
    Lista:
    • 雨が (ame ga) – the rain
    • 降っていた (futte ita) – was raining
    • が (ga) – but
    • 敢えて (aete) – deliberately
    • 外出した (gaishutsu shita) – went out
    ここでは「敢えて」は、意図的に行動するニュアンスを示す。「敢えて」＝「deliberately」。
  • 今日は 外出 します が 雨が 降る か 心配 です。
    kyou wa gaishutsu shimasu ga ame ga furu ka shinpai desu.
    I’m going out today, but I’m worried about whether it will rain.
    Lista:
    • 今日は (kyou wa) – today
    • 外出 (gaishutsu) – going out
    • します (shimasu) – do
    • が (ga) – but
    • 雨が (ame ga) – the rain
    • 降る (furu) – to rain
    • か (ka) – whether
    • 心配 (shinpai) – worry
    • です (desu) – is
    Here 「外出」 means ‘going out’ as a noun, used with します to form the idea ‘to go out’.
外出