目星(めぼし)

めぼし
noun
estimate; lead; target
cognition
1. estimate; guess; expectation
A rough idea or estimate of something, often used when one has a general sense of where something is or who is responsible.
犯人(はんにん)の目星(めぼし)がついた。
They have a lead on the culprit.
引(ひ)っ越(こ)し先(さき)の目星(めぼし)はもうつけてある。
I've already got my eye on a place to move to.
原因(げんいん)の目星(めぼし)はついているが、まだ確認(かくにん)が必要(ひつよう)だ。
I have a rough idea of the cause, but confirmation is still needed.

Usage

目星(めぼし) is almost always used with the verb つく or つける. 目星(めぼし)がつく means to get a lead or form an estimate; 目星(めぼし)をつける means to single out a target or narrow things down.

Common collocations

  • 目星(めぼし)がつく (to get a lead, to have an idea)
  • 目星(めぼし)をつける (to single out, to set one's sights on)
  • 目星(めぼし)がつかない (to have no lead/clue)

Similar words

目途(めど) (also read 目処(めど)) means a prospect or target date and is more formal. 見当(けんとう) means a rough estimate or guess.

Related Words

Synonym: 目途(めど) (prospect, target (formal))
Synonym: 見当(けんとう) (rough estimate)
general
Added 2026.3.9 9:42 · Revised 2026.9.2 13:01
15500/15941_meboshi