目录

• Pinyin: mù lù
• Hanzi breakdown: 目 = eye/heading (pictograph — an eye shape representing a viewing point or category); 录 = 彔(drip/record, phonetic) + 刀(knife, functional) — to carve/record

Meaning

A catalogue; a table of contents; an index or list of items for reference.

Used in publishing for tables of contents, in computing for directory structures (文件目录), and in commerce for product catalogues. A fundamental organisational term across academic, digital, and commercial domains.

Examples

1. 这本学术著作的目录编排清晰，读者可以轻松定位自己感兴趣的章节内容。 The table of contents in this academic work is clearly organized, making it easy for readers to find the chapters they’re interested in.
2. 图书馆的电子目录系统大幅提升了读者查找馆藏资源的效率与便捷程度。 The library’s electronic catalog system has greatly improved the efficiency and convenience of finding items in the collection.
3. 在计算机系统中，合理规划文件目录结构是保障项目管理有序运行的基础。 In computer systems, a well-planned directory structure is the foundation for keeping project management orderly.

Usage Guide

Context: publishing, computing, library science, commerce

Tone: neutral/technical

Do Say

• 请先查阅书末附录中的索引目录，再根据页码定位到相关章节进行深入阅读。(Please first consult the index catalogue in the appendix at the back of the book, then navigate to the relevant chapter using the page numbers for in-depth reading.)
• 系统管理员定期清理服务器上的临时文件目录，以释放存储空间并优化运行效率。(The system administrator regularly cleans the temporary file directories on the server to free up storage space and optimise performance.)

Don't Say

• 把'目录'与'目标'混淆 (目录 refers to an organised list or directory for reference purposes; 目标 means a goal or target — they are entirely different concepts)

Origin & History

目(eye/category heading) + 录(record/list). 目 in classical Chinese referred to chapter headings or main entries; 录 means to record or list.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal