Translation and Meaning of: 目 - me

The Japanese word 「目」 (me) is an ideogram that serves multiple functions in the Japanese language. Its primary meaning is "eye," but it can also refer to aspects such as "point," "interest," and even "number" when combined with other kanji. The use of 「目」 is extensive and versatile, making it an essential word in Japanese vocabulary.

Etymologically, 「目」 is a kanji that traces back to archaic Chinese, graphically representing an eye. This kanji is composed of the radical "囗" (kuchi), which symbolizes an opening or mouth, and the additional part that gives it the specific meaning of eye. This visual concept well reflects its main function related to vision and sight. The origin of this ideogram emphasizes its historical connection with the pictographic representations that inspired many of the Chinese characters adopted by Japanese.

In addition to its literal meaning, 「目」 is used in various expressions and compounds. For example, in the expression 「目的」 (mokuteki), which means "purpose" or "goal", the kanji combines with 「的」 (teki) to form a more abstract term. Another common usage is in 「注目」 (chumoku), which means "attention", illustrating how the concept of "looking" expands to describe focus or interest in something specific. The use of the kanji can also indicate order or sequence, as in the case of 「一番目」 (ichibanme), which means "the first".

The versatility of 「目」 is not limited to compound words; its use is fundamental in daily sentences and conversational structures. The various connotations and the flexibility of application make this term a vital and everyday part of Japanese, enriching the language and providing multiple forms of expression from a single root. Understanding the diverse applications and nuances of 「目」 is crucial for any serious student of the Japanese language.

Vocabulary

Expand your vocabulary with related words:

Synonyms and similar words

• 眼 (gan) - Eye (general vision)
• 眸 (bō) - Eyes (in a more poetic or artistic sense)
• 眼球 (gankyū) - Eyeball
• 目玉 (medama) - Eye (physical, or the "eye of an object")
• 目覚める (mezameru) - Awaken (literally or figuratively, open the eyes)
• 見る (miru) - See (the act of seeing something)
• 見える (mieru) - Visible (something that can be seen)
• 見つめる (mitsumeru) - Stare (to look intensely)
• 見守る (mimamoru) - Observe carefully (with care and attention)
• 見渡す (miwatasu) - Look around (examining a wide area)
• 見抜く (minuku) - Understand (see beyond the surface)
• 見破る (mihaburu) - Unmask (discover the hidden truth)
• 見極める (mikiwameru) - Determine (assess accurately)
• 見通す (mitōsu) - Foresee (see through something)
• 見込む (mikomu) - To count on (to have expectations about something)
• 見逃す (mienogasu) - Lose sight of (not notice or fail to perceive)
• 見捨てる (misuteru) - Abandon (to leave aside, in terms of regard or consideration)
• 見限る (mikagiru) - Give up (lose confidence, no longer expect anything from it)
• 見送る (miokuru) - Saying goodbye (seeing something depart)
• 見舞う (miyau) - Visit (especially someone who is ill or in need)
• 見合わせる (miawaseru) - Stop to observe (take a break to see what's happening)
• 見合い (miai) - Meeting (a meeting to marry)
• 見学 (kengaku) - Study visit (observing for educational purposes)
• 見本 (mihon) - Model (example or sample for reference)
• 見出し (midashi) - Title (header or title of an article)
• 見積もり (mitsumori) - Estimate (cost calculation or forecast)
• 見解 (kenkai) - Opinion (point of view or perspective)
• 見識 (kenshiki) - Knowledge (wisdom or understanding)
• 見地 (kenchi) - Point of view (perspective or angle of vision)
• 見方 (mikata) - Way of seeing (opinion or approach)
• 見苦しい (mikurushii) - Ugly (something that is unpleasant to the eye)
• 見栄え (miba-e) - Appearance (how something visually presents itself)

目

Romaji: me
Kana: め
Type: noun
L: jlpt-n5

Translation / Meaning: eye; eyeball

Meaning in English: eye;eyeball

Definition: The ability to feel things in the external world through the visual organs.

Example Sentences - (目) me

See below some example sentences:

私の目覚まし時計は毎日少しずつずれる。

Watashi no mezamashi tokei wa mainichi sukoshi zutsu zureru

My alarm clock is a little late every day.

My alarm clock changes gradually every day.

• 私の - "Meu" in Japanese
• 目覚まし時計 - "despertador" in Japanese.
• は - Japanese topic particle
• 毎日 - "todos os dias" in Japanese
• 少しずつ - "pouco a pouco" in Japanese
• ずれる - "deslocar-se" in Japanese

究極の目標は自己超越です。

Kyūkyoku no mokuhyō wa jiko chōetsu desu

O objetivo final é auto -transcendental.

• 究極の - "o último" ou "o máximo"
• 目標 - "objetivo"
• は - grammatical particle that indicates the topic of the sentence
• 自己 - "si mesmo"
• 超越 - "transcender" ou "ultrapassar"
• です - Verb "to be" in the present tense

結婚は人生の大きな節目です。

Kekkon wa jinsei no ookina fushime desu

Marriage is a big milestone in life.

Marriage is an important milestone in life.

• 結婚 - casamento
• は - Topic particle
• 人生 - life
• の - Possession particle
• 大きな - large
• 節目 - marco
• です - verb ser (polite form)

自立は人生の大切な目標です。

Jiritsu wa jinsei no taisetsu na mokuhyō desu

Independence is an important goal in life.

• 自立 - means "independence" or "autonomy".
• は - Grammatical particle that indicates the topic of the sentence.
• 人生 - means "human life."
• の - grammatical particle that indicates the relationship of possession or belonging.
• 大切 - It means "important" or "valuable".
• な - partícula gramatical que indica um adjetivo.
• 目標 - means "objective" or "goal".
• です - Verb "to be" in polite form.

薄暗い部屋で本を読むのは目が疲れる。

Hakuaii heya de hon wo yomu no wa me ga tsukareru

Reading books in a dark room tires the eyes.

Reading a book in a dark room is tired.

• 薄暗い - poor lighting
• 部屋 - fourth
• で - in
• 本 - book
• を - object particle
• 読む - read
• のは - Topic particle
• 目 - olhos
• が - subject particle
• 疲れる - cansar-se

見苦しい光景を目にするのは嫌だ。

Mikurushii koukei wo me ni suru no wa iya da

I don't want to see an ugly view.

• 見苦しい - an adjective that means "ugly" or "unpleasant to look at"
• 光景 - noun that means "scene" or "panorama"
• を - Particle indicating the direct object of the sentence
• 目にする - verb that means "see" or "witness"
• のは - Particle indicating the topic of the sentence
• 嫌だ - expression that means "hate" or "dislike"