Ways to say it
| Japanese | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA |
|---|---|---|
| 郊外 | kōgai | [ko̞ːɡa̠i] (narrow) |
| 町外れ | machihazure | [ma̠t͡ɕiha̠zɨɾe̞] (narrow) |
Both 郊外 and 町外れ refer to the edges or areas around a city or town. While 郊外 is a general term often used for the suburbs or the outskirts of a metropolitan area, 町外れ specifically describes the very periphery or edge of a town.
Which one should you use?
郊外 is a more formal or technical term used to describe suburban areas or the outskirts of a metropolitan area in a general sense. In contrast, 町外れ is a more descriptive and slightly more casual term that specifically refers to the very edge or periphery of a town. Additionally, when discussing the outskirts of rural areas or small towns, the term 田舎 is used.
How does it change in a sentence?
To use 郊外 as an adjective to modify a noun, such as "suburban area", you add the particle の to form 郊外の.
How do you pronounce it?
kōgai
Did you know?
- The term 町外れ uses the word 外れ, which can also mean 'missing the mark' or 'being an outcast'. Using this word for outskirts subtly emphasizes the feeling of being detached or separated from the community center.
- In Japan, if you say you live in the 郊外, people will often assume you commute to a large city by train. Unlike the English 'outskirts', which can imply any edge, 郊外 carries a strong connotation of a commuter lifestyle.
- While 郊外 is used for modern suburbs, the term 郊外 also literally translates to 'the outskirts of the capital' in historical contexts. It originally referred specifically to the areas surrounding the Imperial Palace and the central seat of government.
Examples in context
- トムは郊外に住んでいます。Tom lives on the outskirts of the city.This sentence shows how to use 郊外 to say someone lives in the outskirts.Tatoeba #11310537 by small_snow, translation #7200816 by AlanF_US
- 工業地帯は、往々にして都市郊外にあります。Industrial areas tend to be on the outskirts of cities.This sentence uses 郊外 to describe the location of industrial areas.Tatoeba #11623781 by small_snow, translation #9770376 by DJ_Saidez
- 彼の家は市の郊外にある。His house is on the outskirts of the city.This sentence uses 郊外 to state the location of a house.Tatoeba #117972 by mookeee, translation #10203803 by terrywallwork
- 私は田舎の はずれ で育ちました。I grew up in the outskirts of the countryside.
- 東京の 郊外 に大きな公園があります。There is a large park in the outskirts of Tokyo.
- 1 more sentence on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Yui and Kenta are talking about where to build a new house.
- 結衣 Yui静かな郊外に家を建てたいです。Shizukana kōgai ni ie o tatetai desu.I want to build a house in the quiet outskirts.
- 健太 Kentaいいですね。でも、通勤に時間がかかりますよ。Ii desu ne. Demo, tsūkin ni jikan ga kakarimasu yo.That sounds nice. But it will take time to commute.
- 結衣 Yuiリモートワークがあるので大丈夫です。Rimōto wāku ga aru node daijōbu desu.It's okay because I have remote work.
- 健太 Kentaそれなら、郊外での生活は最高ですね。Sorenara, kōgai de no seikatsu wa saikō desu ne.In that case, living in the outskirts would be great.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “outskirts” translations and entries 郊外, 町外れ, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
