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On'yomi
モク・ボク
MOKU / BOKU
Kun'yomi
め・-め・ま-
me / me / ma

eye · class · look · insight · experience · care · favor

Details

Strokes5
Frequency#76
Radicaleye(5)

Stroke Order

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Strokes5

Cultural Context

Etymology

Pictograph depicting a human eye.

Symbolism

Vision, goal, attention. '目' represents power to see essence of things.

Words & Expressions

Four-Character Compounds

一目瞭然

いちもくりょうぜん

obvious; (as) clear as day; plain to see; obvious

岡目八目

おかめはちもく

bystander's vantage point; outsider's better grasp of the situation; onlookers see more of the game than the players do; bystander's vantage point

目茶目茶

めちゃめちゃ

disorderly; messy; ruined; disorderly

眉目秀麗

びもくしゅうれい

handsome; handsome

飛耳長目

ひじちょうもく

sharp eyes and ears used for collecting information far and wide; having the acumen and shrewd discernment gained by widely-collected information; being well-versed on a subject; sharp eyes and ears used for collecting information far and wide

面目一新

めんもくいっしん

undergoing a complete change in appearance; changing something out of all recognition; a rise in one's reputation; undergoing a complete change in appearance

面目躍如

めんもくやくじょ

demonstrative of one's worth; worthy of one's reputation; living up to one's name; demonstrative of one's worth

夜目遠目

よめとおめ

seen in the dark or at a distance; (a woman) looking prettier when seen in the dark or at a distance; seen in the dark or at a distance

相碁井目

あいごせいもく

in every game or play, differences in skill between individuals can be substantial; in every game or play, differences in skill between individuals can be substantial

嫉視反目

しっしはんもく

jealousy and enmity; being jealous of and at odds with (each other); jealousy and enmity

反目嫉視

はんもくしっし

jealousy and enmity; being jealous of and at odds with (each other); jealousy and enmity

満目荒涼

まんもくこうりょう

all nature being bleak and desolate; scene looking desolate and forlorn as far as the eye can see; all nature being bleak and desolate

満目蕭条

まんもくしょうじょう

all nature being bleak and desolate; scene looking desolate and forlorn as far as the eye can see; all nature being bleak and desolate

一目十行

いちもくじゅうぎょう

outstanding reading ability; one glance, ten lines; outstanding reading ability

魚目燕石

ぎょもくえんせき

imitation that looks identical to the original; fake causing the original to lose value; imitation that looks identical to the original

Proverbs & Idioms

目から鱗が落ちる

めからうろこがおちる

Scales fall from the eyes

Suddenly seeing the truth

目は口ほどに物を言う

めはくちほどにものをいう

The eyes speak as much as the mouth

Eyes reveal true feelings

目の上のたんこぶ

めのうえのたんこぶ

A bump above the eye

An obstacle or nuisance

Frequently Asked Questions

What does 目 mean in Japanese?

目 means eye, class, look, insight, experience, care, favor.

How do you read 目?

On'yomi: モク、ボク (MOKU, BOKU). Kun'yomi: め、-め、ま- (me, me, ma).

How many strokes does 目 have?

目 has 5 strokes. Its radical is 目 (eye).

Is 目 a good kanji for a tattoo?

Yes. 目 (eye, class, look, insight, experience, care, favor) has a clear positive meaning and no embarrassing alternate readings, making it a solid tattoo choice.

Explore by meaning:kanji for eye · kanji for class · kanji for look · kanji for care · kanji for favor