1.
out of range; out of service area; no signal
Being outside the coverage area where a mobile phone can receive signal.
山の中で圏外になった。
I lost signal in the mountains.
ここは圏外だから電話ができない。
I can't make calls here because there's no signal.
トンネルの中で圏外になって、通話が切れてしまった。
I lost signal in the tunnel and the call got disconnected.
2.
outside the sphere; out of scope
Figuratively, being outside a certain area or scope of concern.
その問題は私の関心の圏外だ。
That issue is outside my sphere of concern.
彼にとって流行は全くの圏外らしい。
Apparently, trends are completely outside his sphere of interest.
そんな細かいことは社長の関心の圏外にあるから、自分たちで決めよう。
Details like that are outside the president's interest, so let's decide ourselves.
ETYMOLOGY:
圏 (sphere, area) + 外 (outside)
PHONE DISPLAY:
When a phone has no signal, the screen typically shows 「圏外」 where the signal bars would normally be.
RELATED:
- 圏内 - within range (antonym)
- 電波が届かない - signal doesn't reach
- アンテナが立たない - no bars (colloquial)
COLLOCATIONS:
- 圏外になる - to go out of range
- 圏外で〜できない - can't ~ because out of range