Copyright © 2026 Kotomora. All Rights Reserved.

Words Kanji Guides About

刮目 (かつもく) Japanese meaning | Kotomora

刮かつ目もく

か

つ

も

く

Freq.FrequencyTop 100,000

Meanings

1

noun, noun or participle which takes 'suru', intransitive verb

close attention; keen interest; watching intently

Used for observing something with sharp focus and strong interest. Often appears in the set phrase 刮目して待つ (watch eagerly for).

彼かれの今こん後ごの活かつ躍やくに刮かつ目もくしている。
I am watching his future activities with keen interest.
新しん製せい品ひんの発

はっ

表ぴょう

を

刮かつ

目もく

し

て

待ま

つ

。

I eagerly await the announcement of the new product.

Written forms

刮かつ目もくUsage100%
Standard kanji form. 刮 means 'scrutinize' or 'observe closely'.
活かつ目もく
irregular kanji usage
Irregular kanji usage. 活 is not standard for this word; may be encountered but 刮目 is preferred.

Kanji

刮scrape off
目eye, class, look
活lively, resuscitation, being helped

Similar words

注ちゅう目もく
注目 is the common word for 'attention' or 'notice'. 刮目 is more intense and literary, implying scrutinizing observation.
凝ぎょう視し
凝視 means 'staring' or 'gazing fixedly', focusing on the physical act of staring. 刮目 emphasizes mental attention and interest rather than just the gaze.

Etymology

From Chinese 刮目 (guāmù), literally 'scrape one's eyes', meaning to look with renewed attention. The Japanese reading is かつもく. The kanji 刮 carries the sense of 'scrutinize' or 'sharpen one's gaze'.