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目の子勘定 (めのこかんじょう) Japanese meaning | Kotomora

目めの子こ勘かん定じょう

め

の

こ

か

ん

じょ

う

Meanings

1

expression, noun

rough estimate; mental arithmetic

A quick, approximate calculation done in one's head, often by visual inspection or intuition rather than precise measurement. The phrase 目の子算 is a synonymous variant.

See also: 目の子算

彼かれは目めの子こ勘かん定じょうで必ひつ要ような材ざい料りょうの量りょうをざっと見み積つもった。
He roughly estimated the amount of materials needed by mental arithmetic.

正せい確かくな数すう字じはわからないけど、目めの子こ勘かん定じょうでだいたい50人にんくらいだと思おもう。

I don't know the exact number, but by a rough estimate I think it's about 50 people.

Kanji

目eye, class, look
子child, sign of the rat, 11PM-1AM
勘intuition, perception, check
定determine, fix, establish

Similar words

目めの子こ算ざん
Synonymous variant; 目の子算 uses 算 (calculation) instead of 勘定 (counting/accounting), but the meaning is essentially the same.
概がい算さん
A more formal term for 'rough estimate' or 'approximate calculation', often used in business or technical contexts.
暗あん算ざん
Mental arithmetic done without any external aids, focusing on calculation rather than estimation.

Etymology

The phrase combines 目の子 (literally 'child of the eye', referring to something seen at a glance) and 勘定 (counting, calculation). The exact origin is uncertain, but it likely derives from the idea of estimating by eye rather than precise measurement.