Japanese symbol for “purpose”
目的
もくてき
Romaji: mokuteki
purpose; goal; aim; objective
In Japanese, purpose is 目的, read もくてき (mokuteki).
Before using these characters for a tattoo, check them with a native speaker. Dictionary words often have several meanings, and the right choice depends on context.
Meanings
- n purpose; goal; aim; objective; intention; motive
Kanji and stroke order
Other Japanese words for “purpose”
| Word | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 使い道 | つかいみち tsukaimichi | purpose; utility; objective |
| 当て | あて ate | aim; object; purpose |
| 用途 | ようと youto | use; service; purpose |
| 意思 | いし ishi | intention; wish; purpose |
| 目当て | めあて meate | purpose; aim; goal |
Related words
Words that share a kanji.
| Word | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 目標 | もくひょう mokuhyou | goal; target; aim |
| 注目 | ちゅうもく chuumoku | notice; attention; observation |
| 項目 | こうもく koumoku | item; heading; category |
| 目撃 | もくげき mokugeki | witnessing; observing; sighting |
| 駄目 | だめ dame | no good; not serving its purpose; useless |
| 法的 | ほうてき houteki | legal |
| 知的 | ちてき chiteki | intellectual |
| 性的 | せいてき seiteki | sexual (i.e. relating to biological sex) |
See also: Chinese symbol for “purpose”.
Data: JMdict (CC BY-SA 4.0); KANJIDIC2 (CC BY-SA 4.0); KanjiVG (CC BY-SA 3.0); wordfreq (CC BY-SA 4.0 (data)). Retrieved 2026-10-22.