血眼

• Reading: ちまなこ
• Romaji: chimanako
• Kanji breakdown: 血 (chi) — blood; 眼 (manako) — eyes
• Pronunciation: /tɕi.ma.na.ko/

Meaning

Bloodshot eyes; a frantic or desperate state of eager, obsessive pursuit. Used to describe someone driven by intense desperation or fixation.

A noun most commonly used in the set phrase 血眼になって (chimanako ni natte), meaning 'frantically' or 'desperately.' The image of bloodshot, strained eyes conveys extreme effort or urgency. It can describe positive determination as well as reckless obsession.

Examples

1. 締め切りに間に合わせようと、血眼になってデータを入力した。 Desperate to meet the deadline, she entered data frantically, eyes strained and bloodshot.
2. 試験前日は血眼で教科書を読んでいたせいで、翌朝目が痛かった。 The night before the exam, he pored over his textbook with bloodshot eyes, and they ached the next morning.
3. 彼は失った財布を見つけようと、部屋中を血眼になって探し回った。 He tore through every corner of the room in a frantic search for his lost wallet.

Usage Guide

Context: daily life, dramatic speech, journalism, literature

Tone: intense

Origin & History

Compound of 血 (chi, blood) and 眼 (manako, eyes). The image of blood-filled eyes from exhaustion or fury was used metaphorically to describe frantic, unrelenting effort.

Cultural Context

Era: Pre-Modern

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal