節ふし目め

ふ

し

め

Common wordFreq.FrequencyTop 20,000

Meanings

1

noun

turning point; critical juncture; milestone

Metaphorical use referring to a significant stage or transition in life, a project, or a process. Often used with 迎える, 立つ, or となる.

人じん生せいの節ふし目めを迎むかえる。
Reach a turning point in life.
この試し験けんは私わたし

に

とっ

て

大おお

きな

節ふし

目め

と

なっ

た

。

This exam became a major milestone for me.

2

noun

knot (in wood); knothole

Only when written 節目

Literal meaning: a knot or knothole in wood, bamboo, or similar material. Restricted to the 節目 kanji spelling.

この板いたには節ふし目めが多おおい。
This board has many knots.

Written forms

節ふし目めUsage99%
Standard kanji spelling for both the metaphorical 'turning point' and the literal 'knot in wood' senses.
ふしめUsage1%
フシ目め
Mixed katakana-kanji spelling; occasionally seen but much less common than 節目.
フシめ

Kanji

節node, season, period
目eye, class, look

Similar words

区く切ぎり
区切り refers to a deliberate break or punctuation in a process, while 節目 emphasizes a natural or significant turning point.
転てん機き
転機 is a more formal term for a turning point, often used in historical or career contexts, whereas 節目 is common in everyday speech about life stages.

Etymology

Compound of 節 (ふし, 'joint, node') and 目 (め, 'eye, point'). Originally referred to the visible knot or node in bamboo or wood, then extended metaphorically to a significant point or stage in time.