The Meaning of mokuteki [目的] In Japanese

目的
もくてき
Romaji: mokuteki N5

What does 目的 mean?

Translation and Meaning

purpose, aim, objective, goal

Definition

What does 目的 mean? It refers to the goal or intended end of an action, project, or plan; the reason something is done. It denotes the objective or target that guides decisions and efforts.

Type

Noun (名詞)

Stroke Order

Meanings

  • Primary sense: the purpose or objective behind an action or plan.
  • Intended outcome or result sought in a process or project.
  • The reason or aim used in organization, policy, or academic contexts to justify actions.

Composition

  • 目: commonly read as moku in compounds; here it contributes the sense of aim or object rather than literal eye
  • 的: indicates target or direction and forms the noun indicating the object or purpose

Usage

In formal writing and everyday speech, 目的 marks the aim behind an action. It occurs with constructions such as 目的を持つ, 目的を達成する, and 目的を定める; the phrase 〜を目的とする indicates doing something for a specific aim. In business, academia, and policy discourse, 目的 helps frame goals and justify actions. Examples include 本研究の目的は新しい治療法の有効性を検証することだ and この計画の目的を達成するには資源が必要だ.
💡 Tips
Mnemonic: imagine 目 as the eye focusing on a target in a bullseye; the second kanji 的 marks the target, so together they symbolize the purpose you aim for.

Variations

  • 狙い（ねらい） — nerai
  • 意図（いと） — ito
  • 無目的（むもくてき） — mumokuteki

Example Phrases

  • 私の母は地図を指して、目的地を教えた。
    Watashi no haha wa chizu o sashite, mokutekichi o oshieta.
    My mother pointed at the map and told us the destination.
    Lista:
    • 私の (watashi no) – my
    • 母は (haha wa) – mother (topic marker)
    • 地図を (chizu o) – map (object marker)
    • 指して (sashite) – pointing
    • 目的地を (mokutekichi o) – destination (object marker)
    • 教えた (oshieta) – told
    In this sentence, 「指す」 means ‘to point at/indicate’; 地図を指して shows pointing at the map to indicate the destination.
  • 駅の 案内を 受けて、 目的地へ 行った。
    Eki no annai o ukete, mokutekichi e itta.
    I followed the station’s guidance and headed to my destination.
    Lista:
    • 駅の (eki no) – station’s
    • 案内を (annai o) – guidance
    • 受けて (ukete) – receiving
    • 目的地へ (mokutekichi e) – to the destination
    • 行った (itta) – went
    「案内」は名詞 meaning ‘guidance/information’. In this sentence, 「案内を受けて」 indicates ‘to receive guidance’.
  • 今日の仕事終わり、目的地に到達して本当に安心した。
    Kyou no shigoto owari, mokutekichi ni toutatsu shite hontou ni anshin shita.
    After today’s work, I reached my destination and felt truly relieved.
    Lista:
    • 今日の (kyou no) – today’s
    • 仕事終わり (shigoto owari) – end of work
    • 目的地に (mokutekichi ni) – to the destination
    • 到達して (toutatsu shite) – reaching
    • 本当に (hontou ni) – really
    • 安心した (anshin shita) – felt relieved
    「到達」 here means ‘arrival/reaching’; used with に to mark the destination and して to connect the clauses.
  • 今日の 目的は 仕事前に コーヒーを 一杯 飲むことだ。
    Kyou no mokuteki wa shigoto mae ni kōhī o ippai nomu koto da.
    Today’s goal is to drink a cup of coffee before work.
    Lista:
    • 今日の (kyou no) – today’s
    • 目的は (mokuteki wa) – the purpose is
    • 仕事前に (shigoto mae ni) – before work
    • コーヒーを (kōhī o) – coffee
    • 一杯 (ippai) – a cup
    • 飲むことだ (nomu koto da) – to drink
    The word 「目的」 means ‘purpose’ and here acts as the topic of the sentence with は; the following clause states the goal to be achieved.
目的