目的

• Reading: もくてき
• Romaji: mokuteki
• Kanji breakdown: 目 (moku/me) — eye, aim; 的 (teki/mato) — target, mark
• Pronunciation: /mo.kɯ.te.ki/

Meaning

Purpose; goal; aim; objective; intention. What one is trying to achieve or the reason for doing something.

A noun describing the reason or goal behind an action. Very common in both spoken and written Japanese. Often appears in phrases like 目的を達成する (to achieve a goal) and 旅行の目的 (the purpose of a trip). Slightly more formal than 目標 (mokuhyou, target/goal).

Examples

1. 日本に来た目的は日本語の勉強です。 My purpose for coming to Japan is to study Japanese.
2. 目的を決めてから行動したほうがいいですよ。 It's better to decide on your goal before taking action.
3. このプロジェクトの目的を説明してください。 Please explain the purpose of this project.

Usage Guide

Context: travel, business, education

Tone: neutral

Origin & History

Combines 目 (eye/aim) and 的 (target/mark). The image is of an eye fixed on a target — a clear sense of aiming at a specific goal.

Cultural Context

Era: Classical

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal