His remark became the target of criticism.
He became the target of criticism.
The central point of attention, discussion, or activity.
She is always the center of attention.
The incident became the focus of the investigation.
Used in expressions like 的を射る (to hit the mark) or 的を絞る (to narrow down the point).
His point hits the mark.
Let's narrow down the point of discussion.
The arrow hit the target.
I practiced by setting a target far away.
ターゲット is an English loanword used mainly in marketing or casual contexts, while 的 is the native Japanese term with broader everyday use.
対象 is a neutral, formal word for the object or subject of an action or study, whereas 的 keeps a stronger image of something being aimed at.
目標 refers to a goal or objective one works toward, while 的 more literally suggests a physical or figurative mark to hit.
的 is a general, passive target of any attack or attention, while 矛先 emphasizes the directed force or focus of criticism or argument.
的 read まと is a noun meaning a mark or target, while 的 read てき is a suffix meaning '-like' or '-ic' (e.g. 経済的); learners often confuse the two because they share the kanji.
的 refers to a physical target you aim at (like in archery), while 目標 can be either a physical landmark or an abstract goal.
窓 (まど) means 'window', while 的 (まと) sounds similar but means 'target' or 'goal'.
的 is a concrete physical target (like an archery target), whereas 対象 is an abstract object of attention, action, or policy.
counter for small objects; counter for pieces · counter for military units · individual; one person · counter for years of age difference; counter for school years
off the mark; off base; misdirected; irrelevant
target area; range
small mark; small target
wooden target holder (archery)
target shooting (with bow and arrow)
Standard kanji spelling.
Kana spelling is common in everyday writing, especially when the intended meaning is clear from context.
The kanji 的 originally meant 'target' or 'mark' in Chinese. In Japanese, it retains this core meaning and is used both literally and figuratively.