外国語

1. Origins, structure, and basic meaning

• Structure: 外国語 (がいこくご) joins foreign country 外国 with language 語 to denote a foreign language.
• Basic usage: 外国語の modifies a following noun, as in materials or study related to foreign languages, while 外国語で marks the language used to speak or write.

2. Common pitfalls and similar expressions

• Modification and language medium
  • The word does not denote a foreign place.