目標

• Reading: もくひょう
• Romaji: mokuhyō
• Kanji breakdown: 目 (eye) + 標 (mark/sign) → the target your eyes are fixed on, a goal
• Pronunciation: /mo.ku.hjo.u/

Meaning

Goal or target — used as a compliment meaning someone is your inspiration or the standard you're striving toward.

While 目標 literally means 'goal' or 'target,' using it about a person is a strong compliment meaning 'you are what I'm aiming for.' Common in sports, work, and school contexts where someone identifies another person as their benchmark. Saying 目標です (you are my goal) to someone is a serious expression of respect and aspiration.

Examples

1. あなたみたいな人が私の目標です。 Someone like you is my goal.
2. いつか目標にしてる先輩を超えたい。 I want to someday surpass the senpai I've set as my goal.
3. あの選手が子供の頃からずっと目標だった。 That athlete has been my goal ever since I was a kid.

Usage Guide

Context: sports, school, workplace, social media

Tone: determined, respectful

Do Say

• あなたが私の目標です。 (You are my goal.)
• 目標にしてる人がいるから頑張れる。 (I can keep trying because I have someone to aspire to.)

Don't Say

• 「目標にしてます」を毎回言うと社交辞令に聞こえる (Saying 'mokuhyō ni shitemasu' every time sounds like empty flattery)

Common Mistakes

• Saying 目標 about someone significantly below your level — it should be directed upward or at equals you respect

Origin & History

From 目 (eye) + 標 (mark/sign) — literally 'the mark your eyes are fixed on.' A standard Japanese word that has been used to describe goals and targets for centuries. The personal usage (someone being your 目標) is a natural extension of the word's meaning.

Cultural Context

Era: Traditional word, personal usage long-established

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal

Regional notes: Used across all of Japan. Common in sports interviews and school/work culture.