1.
target; mark; bull's-eye
A physical target to aim at, such as in archery or shooting. Also used figuratively for the object of attention, criticism, or focus.
的に当たった。
It hit the target.
批判の的になっている。
It has become the target of criticism.
彼の発言は的を射ていて、全員が納得した。
His remarks were right on target, and everyone was convinced.
A target to aim at, both literally and figuratively. The figurative use — as the object of criticism, attention, or ridicule — is extremely common.
COMMON COLLOCATIONS:
- 的に当たる — to hit the target
- 的を射る — to hit the mark; to be spot-on
- 的を絞る — to narrow one's target/focus
- 的を外す — to miss the mark
- 批判の的 — target of criticism
- 注目の的 — center of attention
- 嘲笑の的 — object of ridicule
IDIOM:
的を射る literally means 'to hit the target' but is used idiomatically to mean 'to be accurate/on point.' Note: the correct form is 的を射る, not 的を得る, though the latter has become widely used.
NOTE ON 的:
The same kanji is read てき as a suffix meaning '-like, -ical' (e.g., 科学的 'scientific'), which is a completely different word.