biased view; favorable eye; seeing through rose-colored glasses
Refers to a tendency to view someone or something favorably due to personal bias or affection. Often used in phrases like ひいき目に見る (to look upon with favoritism) or ひいき目なしに (without bias).
Parents inevitably see their children through rose-colored glasses.
Speaking without bias, his work is truly wonderful.
Common mixed kanji-kana spelling; the kanji 贔屓 is rare and difficult, so this form is preferred in everyday writing.
Full kanji spelling using the rare characters 贔屓; mostly seen in formal or literary contexts.
Compound of 贔屓 (ひいき, 'favoritism') and 目 (め, 'eye'). The kanji 贔屓 are ateji; the word ひいき itself is of uncertain origin, possibly related to the verb 引く (ひく, 'to pull') or an onomatopoeic root.