The Kanji: 目 (Me/Moku) - The "Eye" Kanji
The kanji "目" is a direct and powerful character representing the "eye." Its meaning extends to concepts of sight, perception, points, and items in a list, reflecting the eye's role as a primary tool for observation and organization.
1. Meaning and Usage
Core Meanings: Eye; sight; look; point; item; experience.
Readings:
Kun'yomi (Japanese reading): め (me), ま (ma)
On'yomi (Chinese reading): モク (moku), ボク (boku)
Common Words and Compounds:
目 (め / me) - Eye
目的 (もくてき / mokuteki) - Purpose; goal (The "target" of the eye)
項目 (こうもく / kōmoku) - Item; clause (A listed "point")
注目 (ちゅうもく / chūmoku) - Attention; notice (To "pour one's eyes" on something)
目上 (めうえ / meue) - Superior; senior (A person "above" one's eyes, to be looked up to)
2. Writing and Stroke Order: A Horizontal Gaze
The correct kanji writing for "目" is crucial, as it introduces a common rectangular form. Its stroke order is identical to "口" (mouth) but with internal details.
Stroke Order:
Stroke 1: Left vertical stroke. Write from top to bottom.
Stroke 2: Top horizontal and right vertical stroke in one continuous motion. This forms the outer frame.
Stroke 3: Two short horizontal strokes inside the box, written from left to right. These represent the pupils within the eye.
Stroke 4: Bottom horizontal stroke, closing the box.
Significance of Correct Kanji Writing:
Proportions: The character should be slightly wider than it is tall, resembling the horizontal shape of an eye. This distinguishes it from the more square 口 (mouth).
The Enclosure Rule: Like other enclosed kanji, the outer frame is created first (strokes 1 & 2) before filling in the contents (strokes 3 & 4).
Radical Recognition: As the "eye" radical (めへん), it appears in many kanji related to seeing, vision, and perception (e.g., 見 - to see, 眠 - sleep, 相 - appearance).
3. Historical Origin and Evolution
The history of "目" is one of the clearest examples of a pictogram, evolving from a highly detailed drawing to a stylized symbol.
Oracle Bone Script (甲骨文字):
The earliest form was a vivid side-view pictogram of an eye. It was drawn in profile, beautifully capturing the eyelid, the lashes, and the round iris in the center. It was unmistakably an eye.
Bronze Script (金文) & Seal Script (篆書):
The character underwent a significant transformation. It rotated 90 degrees to stand upright, becoming a front-facing eye. The round iris was stylized into a horizontal line or a dot, and the overall shape became more rectangular to fit the aesthetic of brush writing.
Modern Form (楷書):
The modern "目" is the final, standardized form of the upright, rectangular eye. The two horizontal strokes inside are the legacy of the pupil. While it no longer looks like a detailed drawing, the essence is perfectly preserved: a rectangular outline representing the eye socket, with internal strokes for the detail within. It is a masterclass in abstraction.
Cultural and Conceptual Connection:
In Japanese language and culture, the "eye" is a metaphor for perception, judgment, and experience.
Judgment and Perspective: Having a "good eye" (目が高い, me ga takai) means to have good taste or discernment.
Points and Items: Because the eye focuses on specific points, "目" is used to mean an item in a list or a goal to focus on (目的 - purpose).
Experience: Something that is "hard on the eyes" (目がつらい, me ga tsurai) can mean it's hard to watch, reflecting a personal, experienced perspective.
Summary
The kanji "目" is a character of remarkable clarity and history. It began as a realistic, side-view drawing of an eye and evolved through a 90-degree rotation into the familiar, upright rectangular symbol we use today. Mastering its stroke order and proportions is a foundational step in Japanese kanji writing, as it reinforces the important enclosure pattern and appears as a radical in many vision-related characters. When you learn how to write kanji like "目," you are not just learning a word for "eye"; you are learning a symbol that represents the very act of seeing, perceiving, and understanding the world, a character that has kept its watchful gaze for over 3,000 years.