"Is it bright outside?"

Translation: 外は明るいですか？

[nesmikkuma]

Would "soto ni akarui desu ka?"

[EeyoreIsRight]

Nope.

に is more of a directional particle than an adjectival one. So if you're going somewhere, use に. If you're already somewhere and you're doing something, use で. In situations like this where you're addressing a new specific topic, use は. When you're identifying something that was already mentioned in that conversation, use が.

Hope that helped some.

[AndreasONN]

That's actually really helpful! Thanks.

[Mithlas1]

Just to clarify, が is something of a topic marker that highlights something in its sentence. According to my native Japanese teacher, it's also required in certain constructions like with 好き (すき). My impression from class is that you use は when marking a subject already identified in the conversation but が when you are highlighting a new topic.

[PantelisCh5]

Perfect

[Bohioo]

"i" for the question "ku" for the answer

[Mithlas1]

Would 外で明るいですか。 be a fair translation for "is it bright outside?"

[KrazyTako]

I'm also curious!

[seasalt_hiatus]

で is used when sth happen/occur at a specific place. Since 'bright' is not an action but an adjective you'd use は which indicates that you're talking about the outside (describing the outside)

[Animiles]

外 looks like a handwritten 's' and a 't'. The second part also looks likeト. So to me the word 外 is a mostly phonetic kanji :)

[Alex552014]

Would 外、明るいですか? be acceptable?

I am curious as it seems to be acceptable for certain settings that would take は.
来週 or 今日 for example.