狙(ねら)い

ねらい
noun
aim; intention; objective; target
1. aim; target
The act of directing toward a target, or the target itself.
狙(ねら)いを定(さだ)めて撃(う)った。
I took aim and fired.
狙(ねら)いを外(はず)さず、的(まと)の中心(ちゅうしん)に当(あ)てた。
Without missing the aim, I hit the center of the target.
犯人(はんにん)の狙(ねら)いは銀行(ぎんこう)の金庫(きんこ)だった。
The criminal's target was the bank vault.
2. intention; objective; purpose
What one hopes to achieve or the goal behind an action.
この政策(せいさく)の狙(ねら)いは何(なん)ですか。
What is the aim of this policy?
狙(ねら)いどおりにいった。
It went as intended.
新(あたら)しい制度(せいど)の狙(ねら)いは、若者(わかもの)の就職(しゅうしょく)を支援(しえん)することだ。
The aim of the new system is to support young people in finding employment.

狙(ねら)い is the noun form of the verb 狙(ねら)う (to aim at), referring to both physical targeting and abstract objectives.

COMMON PATTERNS:

  • 狙(ねら)いを定(さだ)める (to take aim)
  • 狙(ねら)いどおり (as intended/planned)
  • 狙(ねら)いが外(はず)れる (to miss the mark)
  • ～の狙(ねら)い (the aim of ~)

COLLOCATIONS:

  • 狙(ねら)い撃(う)ち: Targeted attack, sniping
  • 狙(ねら)い目(め): Target, good opportunity

SIMILAR WORDS:

  • 狙(ねら)い vs. 目的(もくてき): 目的(もくてき) is a more formal word for "purpose" or "objective"; 狙(ねら)い emphasizes the targeting or strategic aspect.
  • 狙(ねら)い vs. 意図(いと): 意図(いと) means "intention" with a nuance of deliberate planning.

Register: Neutral. Used in both concrete (shooting) and abstract (policy) contexts.

Related Words

Related: 狙(ねら)う (verb form)
Synonym: 目的(もくてき) (purpose, objective)
general
Added 2026.1.13 15:25 · Revised 2026.2.19 23:52
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