目的

• Pinyin: mù dì
• Hanzi breakdown: 目 (mù) — eye; 的 (dì) — target, bull's-eye

Meaning

Purpose; objective; goal. The reason or intention behind an action.

Used to discuss the reason or aim behind doing something. Common in phrases like 目的地 (destination), 以…为目的 (with the purpose of). Slightly more formal than 目标 (target/goal), and focuses more on the underlying reason than the specific target.

Examples

1. 你学中文的目的是什么？ What is your purpose in learning Chinese?
2. 他来北京的目的是找工作。 His purpose in coming to Beijing is to find a job.
3. 做事要有明确的目的。 You should have a clear purpose when doing things.

Usage Guide

Context: discussion, planning, formal

Tone: neutral

Do Say

• 你这样做的目的是什么？(What's your purpose in doing this?)
• 我们的目的很明确。(Our objective is very clear.)

Don't Say

• 不要混淆'目的'和'目标' (目的 is the underlying purpose/reason; 目标 is a specific, measurable goal or target — they are related but not interchangeable)

Origin & History

Compound of 目 (eye) and 的 (target). Literally 'what the eye is aimed at', metaphorically the target or purpose one is focused on.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal