外交

• Reading: がいこう
• Romaji: gaikou
• Kanji breakdown: 外 (gai) — outside, foreign; 交 (kou) — exchange, association
• Pronunciation: /ɡa.i.ko.ɯ/

Meaning

Diplomacy; foreign affairs. The management of international relations between countries.

A noun used primarily in political and news contexts. Common compounds include 外交官 (diplomat), 外交関係 (diplomatic relations), and 外交政策 (foreign policy). Also used figuratively to describe interpersonal negotiation skills.

Examples

1. 両国の外交関係は最近改善された。 Diplomatic relations between the two countries have recently improved.
2. 外交官になるには試験に合格しなければならない。 To become a diplomat, you have to pass an exam.
3. 彼女は外交的な話し方が上手だ。 She's skilled at speaking diplomatically.

Usage Guide

Context: politics, international relations, news

Tone: formal

Origin & History

From 外 (outside, foreign) and 交 (exchange, association). The compound describes the exchange of communications and negotiations between nations, rooted in classical Chinese political vocabulary.

Cultural Context

Era: Classical

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal