目
目 means “eye” in Japanese. Its shape is based on an eye turned vertically, making it a clear pictographic kanji.
Reading
On’yomi: モク (moku), ボク (boku)
Kun’yomi: め (me), ま- (ma-)
Basic Information
| Kanji | 目 |
|---|---|
| Meaning | eye |
| Stroke Count | 5 |
| JLPT Level | N5 |
How to Understand This Kanji
目 means eye, but it also appears in words about attention, purpose, goals, and order in a sequence. As a suffix, it can mark ordinal position, such as 一つ目.
Common Words
- 目（め / me） — eye
- 目的（もくてき / mokuteki） — purpose, objective
- 目標（もくひょう / mokuhyō） — goal, target
- 注目（ちゅうもく / chūmoku） — attention, notice
- 一つ目（ひとつめ / hitotsume） — the first one
- 目立つ（めだつ / medatsu） — to stand out
Example Sentences
-
目が痛いので病院に行きます。
めがいたいのでびょういんにいきます。 / Me ga itai node byōin ni ikimasu.
My eyes hurt, so I will go to the hospital.
-
目標を持って毎日勉強しています。
もくひょうをもってまいにちべんきょうしています。 / Mokuhyō o motte mainichi benkyō shite imasu.
I study every day with a goal in mind.
-
赤い帽子が目立っています。
あかいぼうしがめだっています。 / Akai bōshi ga medatte imasu.
The red hat stands out.
When Learners Usually See This Kanji
The standalone reading is め. The readings もく and ぼく appear in compounds such as 目的, 目標, and 注目. The suffix 目 is useful in list and sequence expressions.
Summary
目 means eye and extends to attention, goals, and ordinal numbering.