目玉(めだま)

めだま
noun
eyeball; main feature, highlight
body-partabstract
1. eyeball
The physical eyeball. Also used in the expression 目玉(めだま)が飛(と)び出(で)る (eyes pop out) to express extreme surprise or shock at a price.
目玉焼(めだまや)きを作(つく)った。
I made a fried egg.
値段(ねだん)を見(み)て目玉(めだま)が飛(と)び出(で)た。
My eyes popped out when I saw the price.
子供(こども)が大(おお)きな目玉(めだま)をくりくりさせて不思議(ふしぎ)そうに見(み)ていた。
The child was looking on curiously with big, round eyes.
2. main feature, highlight, centerpiece
The most attractive or attention-grabbing item or feature, especially in sales, events, or plans.
セールの目玉(めだま)商品(しょうひん)はテレビだ。
The featured item in the sale is a TV.
この企画(きかく)の目玉(めだま)は何(なん)ですか。
What is the highlight of this project?
今回(こんかい)の予算案(よさんあん)の目玉(めだま)は、子育(こそだ)て支援(しえん)の大幅(おおはば)な拡充(かくじゅう)だ。
The centerpiece of this budget proposal is a major expansion of childcare support.

Usage

Sense 1: 目玉焼(めだまや)き (fried egg, literally "eyeball fry") is a very common compound. The expression 目玉(めだま)が飛(と)び出(で)る (値段(ねだん)) means the price is shockingly high.

Sense 2: Used as a modifier, 目玉(めだま)商品(しょうひん) (featured product) is standard retail language.

Common collocations

Related Words

Compare: 眼球(がんきゅう) (eyeball)
general
Added 2026.2.26 21:22 · Revised 2026.9.2 13:01
13500/13649_medama