noun HSK 4
eye · item · section
Meaning
目 is a pictographic character originally depicting an eye, with the outer shape representing the outline and the inner strokes representing the pupil. As a standalone character, it's somewhat literary and appears more often in compounds than in everyday speech. It also means 'item' or 'category' in formal contexts like lists or catalogs.
Usage
In modern spoken Mandarin, 眼睛 (yǎnjing) is much more common for 'eye.' 目 appears frequently in formal compounds, literary expressions, and idioms. When meaning 'item' or 'section,' it's used in academic, legal, or technical writing.
Examples
- 01他的目标是成为一名医生。.His goal is to become a doctor.
- 02这份报告一目了然，很容易理解。, .This report is clear at a glance and easy to understand.
Measure words
- 只一只目
Common collocations
- 目的purpose; goal
- 目标target; objective
- 项目project; item
- 一目了然clear at a glance
Origin
Ancient pictograph showing a stylized eye turned on its side, with the horizontal lines representing the eye opening and the vertical lines suggesting the pupil or eyelashes.