郊外(こうがい)

こうがい
noun
suburbs, outskirts
See also: 公害(こうがい) (pollution)
1. suburbs, outskirts
The residential areas on the outer edges of a city or town.
郊外(こうがい)に住(す)みたい。
I want to live in the suburbs.
郊外(こうがい)は静(しず)かで住(す)みやすい。
The suburbs are quiet and easy to live in.
郊外(こうがい)に大(おお)きなショッピングモールがある。
There's a large shopping mall in the suburbs.
郊外(こうがい)は通勤(つうきん)に時間(じかん)がかかるが、家賃(やちん)は安(やす)い。
Commuting takes time from the suburbs, but the rent is cheap.
子供(こども)が生(う)まれてから、広(ひろ)い家(いえ)に住(す)みたくて郊外(こうがい)に引(ひ)っ越(こ)した。
After our child was born, we wanted to live in a bigger house, so we moved to the suburbs.

郊外(こうがい) refers to the residential areas outside the city center.

COMMON EXPRESSIONS:

  • 郊外(こうがい)に住(す)む: to live in the suburbs
  • 郊外(こうがい)に引(ひ)っ越(こ)す: to move to the suburbs
  • 郊外(こうがい)の家(いえ): suburban house
  • 郊外(こうがい)型(がた): suburban-type

CHARACTERISTICS:

Suburbs in Japan typically offer:

  • More space and quieter environment
  • Lower rent/housing costs
  • Longer commute times
  • Need for car ownership

CONTRAST:

  • 郊外(こうがい): suburbs, outskirts
  • 都心(としん): city center
  • 市内(しない): within the city
  • 田舎(いなか): countryside (more rural)

Related Words

Homophone: 口外(こうがい) (disclosing)
Antonym: 都心(としん) (city center)
core
Added 2026.1.8 21:43 · Revised 2026.4.11 10:25
01000/01403_kougai