How to say "external" in Japanese

• 外付けそとづけCommon
  no-adjective, suru verb, transitive verbCovers 'external' only for equipment attached outside a machine, such as an external hard drive or disk drive; it is not used for abstract or figurative senses of the word.
  外付そとづけのハードディスクに保存ほぞんしといて。↗

  Save it on the external hard drive.
• 対外たいがいCommon
  prenominal modifier, nounUsed for 'external' in the sense of involving or directed at foreign countries, as in external relations or policy; it describes dealings between a country and the outside world.
  国務こくむ長官ちょうかんは対外たいがい関係かんけいを統括とうかつする。↗

  The Secretary of State administers foreign affairs.
• 外的がいてきCommon
  na-adjectiveCovers 'external' as the counterpart of 'internal', describing outside factors, forces or influences rather than physical outer sides; think of external causes of a problem.
• 外側そとがわCommon
  no-adjectiveRefers to the physical outside or outer side of something, the exterior part you can point to; use it when 'external' simply means 'on the outside', not for foreign relations or abstract factors.
  水みずは外側そとがわから供給きょうきゅうされた。↗

  Water was supplied from outside.

Choose 「外付け」 for external equipment such as drives, 対外 for matters involving foreign countries, 外的 for outside factors opposed to internal ones, and 外側 for the physical outer side of something.

Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only

• 外付けそとづけexternal (hard drive, disk drive, etc.)
• 対外たいがいexternal
• 外的がいてきexternal
• 外側そとがわexterior
• エクスターナルexternal
• 外形的がいけいてきexternal
• 外面的がいめんてきexternal
• 対外的たいがいてきexternal
• 外なるそとなるouter (self, etc.)
• 外見上がいけんじょうoutward
• 付けづけdated
• ＯＵＴアウトouter