外装

1. Origins, structure, and basic meaning

• Structure: The spelling is 外装, read がいそう, and it combines 外, meaning outside, with 装, meaning finish or covering.
• Basic usage: 外装 is the exterior finish or outer packaging of a building, product, box, or similar object.

2. Common pitfalls and similar expressions

• A building surface and a product box's outer covering
  • Both examples use the form 外装. For a building it is the exterior finish that can be repainted; for a box it is the packaging surface surrounding the contents.
• A bright repaint and a scratch on a box
  • 建物の外装を明るい色に塗り直した。 — The building's exterior was repainted a bright color.
  • 箱の外装に小さな傷が付いていた。 — There was a small scratch on the box's outer packaging.