目めをかける

め

を

か

け

る

Meanings

1

expression, ichidan verb

look after; take care of; favor

Implies giving special attention, patronage, or support to someone, often in a nurturing or preferential way. Used for mentors, bosses, or seniors who take someone under their wing.

部ぶ長ちょうは新しん入にゅう社しゃ員いんに目めをかけている。
The department head is looking after the new employee.

彼かれは先せん生せいに目めをかけられて、特とく別べつな指し導どうを受うけた。

He was favored by the teacher and received special guidance.

2

expression, ichidan verb

gaze at; stare at; set one's eyes on

Original literal meaning; now somewhat literary or emphatic. Describes fixing one's gaze on something or someone with interest or intensity.

彼かれはその美うつくしい絵えに目めをかけた。
He set his eyes on the beautiful painting.

Written forms

目めをかける
Standard kana-mixed spelling; the most common written form.
目めを掛かける
Kanji spelling using 掛ける; less common but still seen.

Kanji

目eye, class, look
掛hang, suspend, depend

Similar words

面めん倒どうを見みる
面倒を見る is more about practical caretaking (e.g., feeding, supervising), while 目をかける implies favoritism or special attention, often in a mentoring context.
贔屓ひいきする
贔屓する is stronger in showing favoritism or partiality, sometimes with a negative connotation, whereas 目をかける is more neutral and can simply mean taking an interest in someone's development.

Etymology

Literally 'to put one's eyes on'. The figurative sense of looking after or favoring someone developed from the idea of keeping a watchful, caring eye on them.