外貨

• Reading: がいか
• Romaji: gaika
• Kanji breakdown: 外 (gai/soto) — outside, foreign, external; 貨 (ka) — money, currency, goods
• Pronunciation: /ɡa.i.ka/

Meaning

Foreign currency; foreign money; foreign exchange. Money denominated in a currency other than one's own.

A noun referring to currency from other countries. Common in financial and travel contexts. Key compounds include 外貨両替 (gaika ryougae, foreign currency exchange), 外貨預金 (gaika yokin, foreign currency deposit), and 外貨準備高 (gaika junbidaka, foreign currency reserves). Important for discussions about international trade, travel planning, and economic policy.

Examples

1. 空港で外貨に両替した。 I exchanged my money for foreign currency at the airport.
2. 外貨預金は為替リスクがある。 Foreign currency deposits carry exchange rate risk.
3. 観光業は外貨を稼ぐ重要な産業だ。 Tourism is an important industry for earning foreign currency.

Usage Guide

Context: finance, travel, economics

Tone: neutral

Origin & History

From Sino-Japanese: 外 (gai, outside/foreign) + 貨 (ka, money/currency). Literally 'outside money' — currency from beyond one's national borders.

Cultural Context

Era: Modern

Generation: Adults

Social background: Universal