目当(めあ)て

めあて
noun
aim, purpose, attraction
abstract
1. aim, purpose, goal
What one is aiming for or trying to achieve. Often used to describe the real objective behind an action.
彼(かれ)の目当(めあ)ては金(かね)だ。
His aim is money.
何(なに)が目当(めあ)てで来(き)たんですか。
What did you come for?
財産(ざいさん)目当(めあ)てで近(ちか)づいてくる人(ひと)には気(き)をつけたほうがいい。
You should be careful of people who approach you for your money.
2. attraction, draw
The main thing one wants to see, get, or experience. Used with お to form お目当(めあ)て.
お目当(めあ)ての商品(しょうひん)は売(う)り切(き)れだった。
The product I was after was sold out.
桜(さくら)が目当(めあ)てで京都(きょうと)に行(い)った。
I went to Kyoto to see the cherry blossoms.
限定(げんてい)スイーツをお目当(めあ)てに、朝早(あさはや)くから行列(ぎょうれつ)ができていた。
People were lining up from early morning to get the limited-edition sweets.

Usage

Sense 1 often appears in the pattern ～目当(めあ)てで (for the purpose of ~) or ～が目当(めあ)て (one's aim is ~). Can carry a negative nuance when describing ulterior motives: 金(かね)目当(めあ)て (after money).

Sense 2 uses the polite prefix お: お目当(めあ)て (the thing one is looking for). Common in shopping and tourism contexts.

Common collocations

general
Added 2026.2.26 21:22 · Revised 2026.9.2 13:01
13500/13648_meate