盲点(もうてん)

もうてん
noun
blind spot
cognition
1. blind spot (anatomical)
The area of the retina where the optic nerve exits, which has no light-sensitive cells and cannot detect visual information.
目(め)には盲点(もうてん)がある。
The eye has a blind spot.
The blind spot is a place where part of the visual field cannot be seen.
The brain automatically compensates for the blind spot.
2. blind spot, oversight, gap
Something that one fails to notice or consider; an area of weakness in one's knowledge or awareness. More commonly used in this figurative sense.
そこが盲点(もうてん)だった。
That was a blind spot.
法律(ほうりつ)の盲点(もうてん)を突(つ)く。
To exploit a loophole in the law.
自分(じぶん)の盲点(もうてん)に気(き)づくのは難(むずか)しい。
It's difficult to notice your own blind spots.

盲点(もうてん) literally means "blind spot" and is used both for the anatomical phenomenon and figuratively for oversights.

Common collocations

Usage note: The figurative sense (sense 2) is more common in everyday usage than the anatomical sense.