外回(そとまわ)り

そとまわり
noun
outside rounds; visiting clients
businesswork
1. outside rounds; visiting clients; outside sales
Going outside the office to visit clients, make deliveries, or conduct business at external locations. A common part of many sales and service jobs in Japan.
今日(きょう)は外回(そとまわ)りの日(ひ)だ。
Today is a day for outside visits.
営業(えいぎょう)の外回(そとまわ)りで一日中(いちにちじゅう)歩(ある)き回(まわ)った。
I walked around all day doing outside sales calls.
雨(あめ)の日(ひ)の外回(そとまわ)りは大変(たいへん)だが、客先(きゃくさき)には時間(じかん)どおりに着(つ)かなければならない。
Doing outside rounds on a rainy day is tough, but you have to arrive at the client's on time.
2. outer loop; outer track
The outer circle of a loop line (such as the Yamanote Line in Tokyo) or the outer circumference of something.
山手線(やまのてせん)の外回(そとまわ)りに乗(の)る。
To ride the outer loop of the Yamanote Line.
外回(そとまわ)りと内回(うちまわ)りを間違(まちが)えて反対方向(はんたいほうこう)に乗(の)ってしまった。
I mixed up the outer and inner loops and got on in the wrong direction.
外回(そとまわ)りホームは階段(かいだん)を上(あ)がって右側(みぎがわ)です。
The outer loop platform is on the right after going up the stairs.

Usage

Sense 1 is a common business term. Office workers who spend time visiting clients are said to be doing 外回(そとまわ)り, in contrast to 内勤(ないきん) (office/desk work).

Sense 2 is used for circular train lines and tracks. On the Yamanote Line, 外回(そとまわ)り goes clockwise and 内回(うちまわ)り goes counterclockwise.

Common collocations

Related Words

Compare: 内勤(ないきん) (desk work)
general
Added 2026.3.18 23:36 · Revised 2026.9.2 13:01
17500/17708_sotomawari