Word
目的
Meaning in Englishpurpose, goal, aim
Animated kanji stroke order
Sentence
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Word context
What it means
What does 目的 mean? It refers to the goal or intended end of an action, project, or plan; the reason something is done. It denotes the objective or target that guides decisions and efforts.
Main meanings
- Primary sense: the purpose or objective behind an action or plan.
- Intended outcome or result sought in a process or project.
- The reason or aim used in organization, policy, or academic contexts to justify actions.
How to use it
In formal writing and everyday speech, 目的 marks the aim behind an action. It occurs with constructions such as 目的を持つ, 目的を達成する, and 目的を定める; the phrase 〜を目的とする indicates doing something for a specific aim. In business, academia, and policy discourse, 目的 helps frame goals and justify actions. Examples include 本研究の目的は新しい治療法の有効性を検証することだ and この計画の目的を達成するには資源が必要だ.
Variants and close terms
- 狙い（ねらい） — nerai
- 意図（いと） — ito
- 無目的（むもくてき） — mumokuteki
Composition
- 目: commonly read as moku in compounds; here it contributes the sense of aim or object rather than literal eye
- 的: indicates target or direction and forms the noun indicating the object or purpose
Word class
Noun (名詞)
Word
Related words by kanji and components
N1
動的
douteki
dynamic, kinetic
N1
一目
ichimoku
a glance, a look, a glimpse
N1
効き目
kikime
effect, virtue, efficacy
N1
生真面目
kimajime
serious, sincerity
N1
切れ目
kireme
break, pause, gap
N1
静的
seiteki
static
N1
先天的
sententeki
inherent, congenital, hereditary
N1
知的
chiteki
intellectual
N1
着目
chakumoku
attention
Kanji