目先(めさき)

めさき
noun
immediate future; before one's eyes
time-generalabstract
1. the immediate future; the short term
What is right in front of one in time: the near future and the gains or problems it holds, as opposed to the long run. Often critical, implying a lack of foresight.
目先(めさき)の利益(りえき)にとらわれるな。
Don't be caught up in short-term gains.
目先(めさき)のことしか考(かんが)えていない。
He only thinks about what is right in front of him.
目先(めさき)の売(う)り上(あ)げを優先(ゆうせん)した結果(けっか)、会社(かいしゃ)は長期的(ちょうきてき)な信用(しんよう)を失(うしな)った。
By putting short-term sales first, the company lost its long-term credibility.
2. (right) before one's eyes
The space just in front of one's eyes, as in an image that hovers there in one's mind.
目先(めさき)にちらつく。
It flickers before my eyes.
母(はは)の顔(かお)が目先(めさき)に浮(う)かぶ。
My mother's face appears before my eyes.
試合(しあい)前(まえ)、去年(きょねん)負(ま)けた場面(ばめん)が目先(めさき)にちらついて眠(ねむ)れなかった。
Before the match, the moment I lost last year kept flashing before my eyes, and I couldn't sleep.

Common expressions

  • 目先(めさき)の利益(りえき): short-term profit
  • 目先(めさき)のことにとらわれる: to be preoccupied with immediate concerns
  • 目先(めさき)が利(き)く: to have foresight, to be quick to see what will work
  • 目先(めさき)を変(か)える: to change things for a change, to try something new to keep interest

Similar words

Watch out

In sense 1 the word usually carries criticism: 目先(めさき)のこと is what a short-sighted person cares about.

Related Words

Compare: 目(め)の前(まえ) (in front of one's eyes)
Compare: 当面(とうめん) (for the time being, neutral rather…)
general
Added 2026.10.11 21:39 · Revised 2026.10.11 21:42
31500/31898_mesaki