外来(がいらい)

がいらい
noun
outpatient; foreign origin
healthculture
1. outpatient
A patient who visits a hospital for treatment without being admitted.
外来(がいらい)患者(かんじゃ)は朝(あさ)早(はや)く来(く)る人(ひと)が多(おお)い。
Many outpatients come early in the morning.
今日(きょう)は外来(がいらい)の日(ひ)だ。
Today is my outpatient visit day.
2. of foreign origin; imported
Coming from outside; not native.
外来(がいらい)種(しゅ)が生態系(せいたいけい)に影響(えいきょう)を与(あた)えている。
Non-native species are affecting the ecosystem.

外来(がいらい) has two main meanings: outpatient (medical) and foreign origin.

COMPOUNDS (medical):

Related words

COMPOUNDS (foreign origin):

  • 外来(がいらい)語(ご): loanword (foreign-origin word)
  • 外来(がいらい)種(しゅ): introduced (non-native) species; harmful ones are 侵略的(しんりゃくてき)外来種(がいらいしゅ)
  • 外来(がいらい)文化(ぶんか): foreign culture

Usage

In medical contexts, 外来(がいらい) alone often means "outpatient department/services."

Related Words

Antonym: 入院(にゅういん) (hospitalization)
Compare: 入院(にゅういん)患者(かんじゃ) (inpatient)
Related: 通院(つういん) (visiting a hospital)
general
Added 2026.2.4 12:55 · Revised 2026.10.5 22:13
09500/09895_gairai