Japanese word

的

Pronunciation

Romajimato

Meaning

  • nountarget

Example

矢が的に当たります。ya ga mato ni a ta ri ma su

The arrow hits the target.

Illustration for 的 (target)

More examples

ゲームで的をねらいます。gē mu de mato o ne ra i ma su

I aim at the target in a game.

練習のために、紙の的を壁に貼ります。ren shū no ta me ni kami no mato o kabe ni ha ri ma su

For practice, I put a paper target on the wall.

Core concept

A defined object or point gives an action a precise aim, whether it is reached or hit.

Common phrases

  • 的を狙うmato o nera u

    aim at the target

  • 的に当たるmato ni a ta ru

    hit the target

  • 的を外すmato o hazu su

    miss the target

Similar words

標的hyōteki: A clearly marked object or point used as the aim of an action.
目標mokuhyō: A chosen object or point that an action or effort seeks to reach.

Definition in Japanese

矢などを当てるために設けた標的。ya na do o a te ru ta me ni mō ke ta hyō teki

Word origin

的 (mato, "target") is a native Japanese noun rather than a Sino-Japanese reading; it uses 的, whose older Chinese sense is "target", while the origin of the spoken form remains uncertain.

Usage tips

  • In 弓道 (kyūdō), 的 (mato) is traditionally a round straw target placed at a fixed distance, preserving the word's link to a clearly defined object of aim.

Other meanings

  • marknoun

Word lists with this word