目

mù

Definitions

mù (noun) eye

mù (noun) section; item; entry

mù (noun) goal; aim

Etymology

Pictograph of an eye.

About

目 first appeared as a horizontal pictograph of an eye, with internal strokes marking the pupil and iris, and was later rotated vertically to harmonize with brush-written columns of other characters. It now serves as the semantic radical in characters concerning sight, seeing, and eye disorders, while as a single word it is the formal or anatomical term for 'eye'. From the idea of scanning an organized collection, it further came to denote a list, category, item, or goal.

Etymology Hide

Oracle etymology image

Oracle (~1250-1000 BC)

Oracle etymology image

Oracle (~1250-1000 BC)

Oracle etymology image

Oracle (~1250-1000 BC)

Bronze etymology image

Bronze Early Western Zhou (~1000 BC)

Bronze etymology image

Bronze Early Western Zhou (~1000 BC)

Seal etymology image

Seal Chu (Warring States: 475-221 BC)

Seal etymology image

Seal Chu (Warring States: 475-221 BC)

Seal etymology image

Seal Chu (Warring States: 475-221 BC)

Seal etymology image

Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)

Seal etymology image

Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)

Clerical etymology image

Clerical Qin dynasty (221-206 BC)

Traditional Modern

Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

我目前在家。

Wǒ mùqián zài jiā.

I am currently at home.

我的目标是成功。

Wǒ de mùbiāo shì chénggōng.

My goal is success.

他目光中充满希望。

Tā mùguāng zhōng chōngmǎn xīwàng.

His eyes are full of hope.

这本书的目录很长。

Zhè běn shū de mùlù hěn cháng.

The table of contents of this book is very long.

我们有一个新项目。

Wǒmen yǒu yīgè xīn xiàngmù.

We have a new project.

物理是我喜欢的科目。

Wùlǐ shì wǒ xǐhuān de kēmù.

Physics is my favorite subject.

为了达到这个目的，我们需要更多时间。

Wèile dádào zhège mùdì, wǒmen xūyào gèng duō shíjiān.

In order to achieve this purpose, we need more time.

他通过目测大致估算了距离。

Tā tōngguò mùcè dàzhì gūsuànle jùlí.

He roughly estimated the distance by visual measurement.

Related Characters

Composed characters:

Component: 目

Example Words