目(め)をそむける

めをそむける
expression
to avert one's eyes; to look away
action
1. to avert one's eyes; to look away
To deliberately turn one's gaze away from something unpleasant, embarrassing, or difficult to face. Can be used both literally and figuratively.
思(おも)わず目(め)をそむけた。
I involuntarily looked away.
事故(じこ)の現場(げんば)があまりにも悲惨(ひさん)で、目(め)をそむけたくなった。
The accident scene was so terrible that I wanted to look away.
現実(げんじつ)から目(め)をそむけていては、問題(もんだい)は解決(かいけつ)しない。
If you keep looking away from reality, the problem won't be solved.

目(め)をそむける means to deliberately avert one's gaze, either literally or figuratively. Can also be written as 目(め)を背(そむ)ける with kanji.

Functions

1. Literal: To physically look away from something unpleasant or shocking
2. Figurative: To avoid confronting a problem, truth, or responsibility

Common patterns

  • 目(め)をそむける: to look away
  • ～から目(め)をそむける: to avert one's eyes from ~
  • 目(め)をそむけたくなる: to want to look away
  • 目(め)をそむけたくなる光景(こうけい): a sight that makes you want to look away
  • 現実(げんじつ)から目(め)をそむける: to look away from reality

Similar words

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Used in both everyday speech and literary/journalistic writing. Common in news reporting about disasters, accidents, and social problems.

Related Words

Compare: 目(め)を逸(そ)らす (to look away)
Compare: 目(め)をつぶる (to close one's eyes)
general
Added 2026.3.23 14:31 · Revised 2026.9.2 13:01
18500/18848_mewosomukeru