目(め)を通(とお)す

めをとおす

expression

to look through, to skim, to glance over

1. to look through, to skim, to glance over

To read or review something quickly to get the general content without reading every detail.

報告書(ほうこくしょ)に目(め)を通(とお)しておいてください。

Please look over the report.

契約書(けいやくしょ)には必(かなら)ず目(め)を通(とお)すべきだ。

You should always look through contracts.

朝(あさ)、新聞(しんぶん)に目(め)を通(とお)す。

I skim the newspaper in the morning.

資料(しりょう)にざっと目(め)を通(とお)した。

I quickly glanced through the materials.

Structure: 目(め) (eye) + を + 通(とお)す (to pass through). Literally 'to pass one's eyes through' something.

Nuance: Implies quick review rather than careful, thorough reading. Often used for:

Documents, reports, contracts
Newspapers, magazines
Email, messages

Degrees of thoroughness

目(め)を通(とお)す: skim, look over (quick)
ざっと目(め)を通(とお)す: very quick glance
しっかり目(め)を通(とお)す: look through carefully

Related words

読(よ)む (to read) - general, neutral
熟読(じゅくどく)する (to read thoroughly) - careful reading
斜(なな)め読(よ)み (skimming) - reading diagonally
一読(いちどく)する (to read once through)

OTHER 目(め) EXPRESSIONS:

目(め)が離(はな)せない: can't take eyes off
目(め)を配(くば)る: to keep an eye on
目(め)を引(ひ)く: to catch one's eye

Related Words

Related: 読(よ)む (to read (general))

Related: 斜(なな)め読(よ)み (skimming)

Compare: 熟読(じゅくどく) (reading thoroughly)

Related: 目(め)が離(はな)せない (can't take one's eyes off)

Related: 一読(いちどく) (to read once through)

general

Added 2026.1.18 19:03 · Revised 2026.9.4 21:31

06500/06904_mewotoosu