目と鼻の先

• Reading: めとはなのさき
• Romaji: me to hana no saki
• Kanji breakdown: 目 (me) — eye; 鼻 (hana) — nose; 先 (saki) — tip, point
• Pronunciation: /me.to.ha.na.no.sa.ki/

Meaning

Very close; within a stone's throw; right nearby. An idiomatic expression for extreme proximity.

An idiomatic noun phrase describing something that is extremely close in physical distance. Literally 'the distance between one's eyes and nose.' Used to emphasise how near a place or location is. Similar to English 'a stone's throw away.' Always refers to physical distance, not time or abstract closeness.

Examples

1. 駅はここから目と鼻の先だよ。 The station is just a stone's throw from here.
2. 学校と家が目と鼻の先なので通学が楽だ。 Since school and home are just a stone's throw apart, the commute is easy.
3. コンビニが目と鼻の先にあるのは便利だ。 It's convenient to have a convenience store right around the corner.

Usage Guide

Context: directions, daily life, conversation, description

Tone: conversational

Origin & History

A figurative expression based on the short distance between one's eyes (目) and nose (鼻). The distance between these facial features is minimal, hence the idiom describes something extremely close by.

Cultural Context

Era: Classical

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal