目安

• Reading: めやす
• Romaji: meyasu
• Kanji breakdown: 目 (moku/me) — eye, aim; 安 (an/yasu) — peace, settle
• Pronunciation: /me̞jasɯ/

Meaning

Standard; guideline; rough estimate; reference benchmark.

A noun indicating a practical reference point or approximate measure — not an absolute rule. Common in everyday and formal writing: 目安として (as a guideline), 目安に過ぎない (merely a rough estimate). The word suggests something useful for orientation without being binding. Contrasted with 基準 (objective criterion) or 規則 (rule).

Examples

1. 料金は一万円を目安にして予算を組んだ。 I put together the budget using ten thousand yen as a rough estimate for the fee.
2. 完成までの目安として、三ヶ月を見ていただければ幸いです。 As a guideline for completion, I would appreciate it if you could allow about three months.
3. この数値はあくまでも目安に過ぎず、個人差がある。 This figure is merely a rough benchmark and varies from person to person.

Usage Guide

Context: planning, business, daily life, policy

Tone: neutral

Origin & History

Compound of 目 (eye, aim) and 安 (peace, settle). Originally referred to a marker or target set by eye; later generalised to mean any approximate reference point or practical guideline.

Cultural Context

Era: Modern

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal