目(め)を奪(うば)う

めをうばう
expression
to captivate the eye; to be dazzling
idiomappearance
1. to captivate the eye; to hold someone spellbound
For something so striking or beautiful that people cannot look away. The subject is the thing that dazzles, and the person affected is marked with の or から.
美(うつく)しい景色(けしき)が目(め)を奪(うば)う。
The beautiful scenery captivates the eye.
鮮(あざ)やかな衣装(いしょう)が観客(かんきゃく)の目(め)を奪(うば)った。
The vivid costumes captivated the audience.
夜空(よぞら)いっぱいに広(ひろ)がる花火(はなび)が見(み)る人(ひと)の目(め)を奪(うば)い、しばらく誰(だれ)も声(こえ)を出(だ)さなかった。
The fireworks spreading across the night sky held the viewers spellbound, and for a while no one said a word.

Usage

The passive 目(め)を奪(うば)われる is at least as common as the active form, and puts the dazzled person in subject position: 私(わたし)は景色(けしき)に目(め)を奪(うば)われた (I was captivated by the scenery).

Common collocations

  • 人(ひと)の目(め)を奪(うば)う: to catch people's eyes
  • 観客(かんきゃく)の目(め)を奪(うば)う: to captivate the audience
  • 美(うつく)しさが目(め)を奪(うば)う: for beauty to be dazzling

Similar words

  • 目立(めだ)つ: to stand out — neutral visibility, not necessarily admiration
  • 見(み)とれる: to gaze in admiration — describes the viewer's side
  • 魅了(みりょう)する: to fascinate — broader, not limited to what is seen

Related Words

Compare: 目立(めだ)つ (to stand out)
Compare: 魅了(みりょう)する (to fascinate)
Compare: 目(め)を引(ひ)く (to catch the eye)
general
Added 2026.8.15 0:52 · Revised 2026.9.2 13:02
30500/30638_mewoubau