内装 and 外装: interiors, exteriors, and outer packaging
Compare 内装 for a store interior or vehicle interior with 外装 for a building exterior or box packaging. Follow names for inner and outer parts beyond buildings alone.
Interior finish and vehicle interior with 内装
内装 (ないそう) means interior finish or vehicle interior. 「店の内装を木目調に改めた。」 means “We changed the store's interior to have a wood-grain look.” The store interior was changed to have a wood-grain look.
「車の内装には汚れに強い素材が使われている。」 means “Stain-resistant materials are used in the vehicle's interior.” Here 内装 names the vehicle’s interior, where stain-resistant materials are in use.
Exterior and outer packaging with 外装
外装 (がいそう) means exterior or outer packaging. 「建物の外装を明るい色に塗り直した。」 means “The building's exterior was repainted a bright color.” The building’s exterior is what was repainted.
「箱の外装に小さな傷が付いていた。」 means “There was a small scratch on the box's outer packaging.” The small scratch was on the box’s outer packaging.
Names extending beyond buildings
内装 names a vehicle interior as well as a store’s interior finish. 外装 names a box’s outer packaging as well as a building exterior, so neither word is restricted to buildings.
車の内装 names the vehicle interior, while 箱の外装 names the box’s outer packaging. They name inner or outer parts, rather than an activity inside the vehicle or the contents of the box.
What do 車の内装 and 箱の外装 name?
Show the answer and why
The first names the vehicle interior; the second names the box’s outer packaging. These uses extend beyond a building’s interior finish and exterior, rather than naming an activity inside the vehicle or the box’s contents.