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目

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
Radical目eye(5)

Description

Eye - a human eye turned upright. Sight, attention, and the goal you fix your eyes on.

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

Words written with 目

目方めかたweight
目つきめつきeyes
目覚めるめざめるawake
目出度いめでたいauspicious
代目だいめnth

Four-Character Compounds

一目瞭然

いちもくりょうぜん

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

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

目茶目茶

めちゃめちゃ

disorderly; messy; ruined

眉目秀麗

びもくしゅうれい

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

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

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

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

相碁井目

あいごせいもく

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)

反目嫉視

はんもくしっし

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

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

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

一目十行

いちもくじゅうぎょう

outstanding reading ability; one glance, ten lines

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

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

Poetry

俳句 (Haiku)

行春や鳥啼魚の目は泪

Spring going — birds crying, and tears in the eyes of the fish.

松尾芭蕉Matsuo Basho
1689

Anime & Manga

とある魔術の禁書目録

A Certain Magical Index

Anime

A well-known work with 目 in its Japanese title.

お隣の天使様にいつの間にか駄目人間にされていた件

The Angel Next Door Spoils Me Rotten

Anime

A well-known work with 目 in its Japanese title.

夏目友人帳

Natsume's Book of Friends Season 1

Anime

A well-known work with 目 in its Japanese title.

クラスで2番目に可愛い女の子と友だちになった

I Made Friends with the Second Prettiest Girl in My Class

Anime

A well-known work with 目 in its Japanese title.

最強の王様、二度目の人生は 何をする?

The Beginning After the End

Anime

A well-known work with 目 in its Japanese title.

Related Figures & Stories

夏目雅子

Masako Natsume1957–1985

Name contains 目

Masako Natsume was a Japanese actress from Tokyo.

Wikipedia

Frequently Asked Questions

What does 目 mean in Japanese?

目 means eye, class, look, insight, experience, care, favor. Eye - a human eye turned upright. Sight, attention, and the goal you fix your eyes on.

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?

目 is one of the kanji most often chosen for tattoos. It means eye, class, look, insight, experience, care, favor. Read the full meaning and cultural background on this page first — some popular choices are deliberately dark.

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