一目置く
いちもくおく
expression, verb (godan)
to acknowledge someone's superiority; to look up to; to defer to
Conjugation
| Affirmative | Negative | |
|---|---|---|
| Present | 一目置く | 一目置かない |
| Present polite | 一目置きます | 一目置きません |
| Past | 一目置いた | 一目置かなかった |
| Past polite | 一目置きました | 一目置きませんでした |
| て form | 一目置いて | 一目置かなくて |
| ている present | 一目置いている | 一目置いていない |
| ている polite | 一目置いています | 一目置いていません |
| ている past | 一目置いていた | 一目置いていなかった |
| ている past polite | 一目置いていました | 一目置いていませんでした |
| Conditional ば | 一目置けば | 一目置かなければ |
| Conditional たら | 一目置いたら | 一目置かなかったら |
| Volitional | 一目置こう | — |
| Volitional polite | 一目置きましょう | — |
| Potential | 一目置ける | 一目置けない |
| Passive | 一目置かれる | 一目置かれない |
| Causative | 一目置かせる | 一目置かせない |
| Imperative | 一目置け | 一目置くな |
1.
to acknowledge someone's superiority; to look up to; to defer to
To recognize and respect that someone is superior in a particular skill or area. Originally from Go (the board game), where giving a handicap stone acknowledges the opponent's lower level.
彼には一目置いている。
I acknowledge his superiority.
先輩たちも彼女の実力には一目置いている。
Even the seniors acknowledge her ability.
料理の腕に関しては、妻に一目置かざるを得ない。
When it comes to cooking skill, I have no choice but to defer to my wife.
An idiomatic expression from the game of Go (囲碁). In Go, a weaker player is given a handicap of one or more stones placed on the board before the game begins. "Placing one stone" (一目置く) thus means acknowledging that the other person is stronger or more skilled.
COMMON PATTERNS:
- ～に一目置く: to defer to ~
- ～には一目置いている: to acknowledge ~'s superiority (resultative state)
- 一目置かれる: to be respected/looked up to (passive)
USAGE:
Always used about someone else — never about oneself. Implies genuine respect based on recognized skill or ability, not mere social deference. Often used when even peers or superiors recognize someone's talent.