Japanese word

一目

Pronunciation

Romajihitome

Meaning

  • nounglance

Example

その絵を一目見て、すぐに分かりました。so no e o hito me mi te su gu ni wa ka ri ma shi ta

I understood it at a glance.

Illustration for 一目 (glance)

More examples

彼の字は、一目で本人のものだと分かりました。kare no ji wa hito me de hon nin no mo no da to wa ka ri ma shi ta

I knew at a glance that the handwriting was his.

Core concept

Centers on a quick look that takes in something without a careful or prolonged examination.

Common phrases

  • 一目で分かるhito me de wa ka ru

    know at a glance

  • 一目見てhito me mi te

    at first glance

Similar words

ちら見chirami: A quick look at something without close or prolonged examination.
一瞥ichibetsu: A brief look at something, often in a formal or literary context.
一見ikken: A first look at something that gives an immediate general impression.

Definition in Japanese

対象を短い時間だけ見ること。tai shō o mijika i ji kan da ke mi ru ko to

Word origin

The Japanese compound 一目 (hitome) joins 一 (hito, "one") with 目 (me, "eye"), literally suggesting one look.

Usage tips

  • In conversational Japanese, 一目で (hitome de) often appears before verbs of recognition or understanding, showing that a single glance produces the result.

Other meanings

  • looknoun
  • glimpsenoun

Word lists with this word