目敏い

• Reading: めざとい
• Romaji: mezatoi
• Kanji breakdown: 目 (moku/me) — eye; 敏 (bin/sato) — quick, perceptive, sensitive
• Pronunciation: /me.za.to̞.i/

Meaning

Sharp-eyed; keen-eyed; quick to notice. Describes someone who spots things quickly and misses nothing, especially good deals, opportunities, or hidden details.

An i-adjective formed from 目 (me — eye) + 敏い (satoi — quick, sensitive, perceptive). Used to describe acute visual awareness or a talent for noticing things others overlook. Often has a positive connotation — a 目敏い人 spots bargains, catches errors, or notices subtle changes. Can also imply being overly watchful or opportunistic in negative contexts.

Examples

1. 目敏い彼女はすぐに変化に気づき、何があったか聞いてきた。 Sharp-eyed as ever, she noticed the change immediately and came to ask what had happened.
2. 市場では目敏い買い手ほど、掘り出し物を見つけるのが早い。 At the market, the keener the buyer's eye, the quicker they find a hidden gem.
3. 目敏い上司に誤字を指摘され、提出前に修正できた。 My sharp-eyed supervisor pointed out the typo, and I was able to correct it before submitting.

Usage Guide

Context: observation, shopping, workplace, personality

Tone: admiring or neutral

Origin & History

Compound of 目 (me — eye) + 敏い (satoi — quick, sensitive, perceptive). The combination describes eyes that are quick and perceptive — i.e. sharp-eyed.

Cultural Context

Era: Modern

Generation: Adult

Social background: General