外部
がいぶ · gaibu · JLPT N2 · noun
outside
🌍 外 = outside, 部 = part: the part outside of a whole
外 (gai) means outside or beyond a boundary, and 部 (bu) means section or part. Put together, 外部 names the outer section of something, the world that lies beyond a boundary.
外 — evening 夕 + divination 卜
Originally a compound of 夕 (evening) and 卜 (divination). Ancient Chinese divinations were performed in the morning; doing them at evening (夕) was considered irregular or 'outside' the norm. From this sense of deviation, 外 came to mean 'outside' or 'external'.
部 — 阝(邑) right + 咅 phonetic
The right-side 阝 derives from 邑 (city/settlement), giving the meaning of a region, district, or administrative division. The left side 咅 supplies the sound. Originally referring to a settlement, the meaning broadened to 'part,' 'section,' or 'ministry.'