目論もくろむ

も

く

ろ

む

JLPTN1Freq.FrequencyTop 50,000

目論む · godan verb (-mu)

Form	Positive	Negative
Dictionary	目論もくろむ	目論もくろまない
Polite	目論もくろみます	目論もくろみません
Past polite	目論もくろみました	目論もくろみませんでした
Past	目論もくろんだ	目論もくろまなかった
Te-form	目論もくろんで	目論もくろまないで
Desire	目論もくろみたい	目論もくろみたくない
Potential	目論もくろめる	目論もくろめない
Passive	目論もくろまれる	目論もくろまれない
Causative	目論もくろませる	目論もくろませない
Causative passive	目論もくろませられるalso 目論もくろまされる	目論もくろませられないalso 目論もくろまされない
Volitional	目論もくろもう
Polite volitional	目論もくろみましょう
Imperative	目論もくろめ	目論もくろむな
Conditional	目論もくろめば	目論もくろまなければ
Tara conditional	目論もくろんだら	目論もくろまなかったら

Meanings

godan verb (-mu), transitive verb

plan; scheme; plot; intend

Often implies a calculated, sometimes secretive or ambitious plan. Can be neutral or negative depending on context.

彼かれは会かい社しゃを辞やめて独どく立りつを目論もくろんでいる。
He is planning to quit his job and go independent.
敵てきは我われ々われの裏うらをかこうと目論もくろんでいた。
The enemy was scheming to outwit us.

Usage patterns

〈事こと〉〉を目論もくろむto scheme/plot (something)
彼かれは会かい社しゃの乗のっ取とりを目論もくろんでいた。
He was scheming to take over the company.
〜（よ）うと目論もくろむto plot/scheme to do something
彼かれは一ひと儲もうけしようと目論もくろんでいる。
He is scheming to make a quick profit.
裏うらで〈事こと〉〉を目論もくろむto scheme something behind the scenes
彼かれらは裏うらで選せん挙きょ結けっ果かの操そう作さを目論もくろんでいた。
They were secretly scheming to manipulate the election results.

Kanji

目eye, class, look
論argument, discourse

Related words

たくらむN1
企む and 目論む both mean to scheme or plot, but 企む leans more toward secretive or malicious schemes while 目論む can also describe a calculated personal ambition.
企くわだてるN1
企てる often implies a more deliberate, large-scale undertaking, while 目論む is more about a personal or calculated intention.
計けい画かくN4
計画する is a neutral, formal word for making a plan, whereas 目論む carries a nuance of calculation or scheming, sometimes with a negative shade.
図はかるN1
図る means to plan or work toward an outcome and is fairly neutral, while 目論む often suggests a self-interested or hidden scheme.
狙ねらうN2
目論む carries a stronger nuance of secretly scheming or plotting, whereas 狙う can be neutral or open about the target.

Don't confuse with

見み込こむN1
見込む means to expect or estimate (a future outcome), while 目論む means to actively plot or scheme something; learners sometimes confuse them because both start with a 目/見 kanji and relate to foresight.

Written forms

目論もくろむUsage49%
Standard kanji spelling.
もくろむUsage51%
Kana spelling is common in informal writing.

Etymology

Compound of 目 (eye, aim) and 論む (to argue, discuss), with the latter likely related to 論じる. The exact derivation is uncertain, but the combination suggests 'to aim and deliberate'.