目(め)をつぶる

めをつぶる
expression
to close one's eyes; to overlook; to turn a blind eye
body-partevaluation
1. to close one's eyes
The literal, physical act of shutting one's eyes.
目(め)をつぶってください。
Please close your eyes.
子(こ)どもたちは目(め)をつぶって数(かず)を数(かぞ)えた。
The children closed their eyes and counted.
怖(こわ)い場面(ばめん)では思(おも)わず目(め)をつぶってしまう。
I involuntarily close my eyes during scary scenes.
2. to overlook; to turn a blind eye
To deliberately ignore a fault, mistake, or wrongdoing rather than addressing it.
今回(こんかい)は目(め)をつぶろう。
I'll let it slide this time.
小(ちい)さなミスには目(め)をつぶるべきだ。
You should overlook minor mistakes.
品質(ひんしつ)の問題(もんだい)に目(め)をつぶるわけにはいかない。
We can't turn a blind eye to quality issues.

A common expression with both a literal and figurative meaning. The figurative sense of deliberately ignoring something is widely used in daily conversation and business contexts.

Common collocations

Similar words

  • 目(め)をそらす: to avert one's eyes — physically or figuratively looking away, but implies avoidance rather than forgiveness
  • 大目(おおめ)に見(み)る: to be lenient — specifically about showing leniency, always figurative
  • 見逃(みのが)す: to overlook; to miss — can be either intentional or accidental

Related Words

Compare: 見逃(みのが)す (to overlook)
Related: 瞬(まばた)き (blink)
Compare: 目(め)をそむける (to avert one's eyes)
Related: 目(め)を閉(と)じる (to close one's eyes)
general
Added 2026.4.29 1:08 · Revised 2026.9.4 21:31
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