Phrase in 30 Seconds
Use this to compliment someone's excellent taste or their ability to spot high-quality items that others might miss.
- Means: Having a keen eye for quality or value.
- Used in: Shopping, art galleries, or when someone makes a smart choice.
- Don't confuse: Using it for yourself; it's almost always a compliment for others.
توضیح در سطح شما:
معنی
To have a keen eye for quality or value.
زمینه فرهنگی
In high-end Japanese department stores (Depachika), staff are trained to use this phrase to validate the customer's ego and taste, encouraging a purchase. Using this phrase for a superior can be a form of 'Goma-suri' (flattery/brown-nosing), but when used sincerely, it acknowledges their experience. The concept of 'Mekiki' (the person with the eye) is central to tea ceremonies, where the value of a bowl is determined by the 'eyes' of the masters. On Japanese Instagram, you'll see the hashtag #お目が高い when people post unique fashion finds or aesthetic cafe photos.
The 'Suga' Combo
Combine it with 'Sasuga' (As expected) for maximum impact: 'Sasuga, me ga takai desu ne!'
Don't use for yourself
It's like calling yourself a genius. Let others say it about you.
The 'Suga' Combo
Combine it with 'Sasuga' (As expected) for maximum impact: 'Sasuga, me ga takai desu ne!'
Don't use for yourself
It's like calling yourself a genius. Let others say it about you.
Shopkeeper Talk
If a shopkeeper says this to you, they are trying to close the sale. Take it as a compliment, but stay focused!
خودت رو بسنج
Choose the most natural response when a friend shows you a beautiful, rare book they found.
友達：『この本、100円で見つけたんだ！』 あなた：『（ ）ね！』
'Me ga takai' is the correct idiom for recognizing value.
Fill in the particle to complete the noun-modifying phrase.
目（ ）高いバイヤーが、その商品を買い占めた。
When 'me ga takai' modifies a noun (buyer), 'ga' often changes to 'no'.
In which situation is it INAPPROPRIATE to use 'Me ga takai'?
Select the wrong context:
You should not use this idiom for yourself as it sounds boastful.
Complete the dialogue with the correct form.
A: この絵、実は有名な画家の初期の作品なんです。 B: さすが、店長は（ ）ですね。
The present polite form is most natural for a general compliment.
🎉 امتیاز: /4
ابزارهای بصری یادگیری
بانک تمرین
5 تمرینها友達：『この本、100円で見つけたんだ！』 あなた：『（ ）ね！』
'Me ga takai' is the correct idiom for recognizing value.
目（ ）高いバイヤーが、その商品を買い占めた。
When 'me ga takai' modifies a noun (buyer), 'ga' often changes to 'no'.
Select the wrong context:
You should not use this idiom for yourself as it sounds boastful.
A: この絵、実は有名な画家の初期の作品なんです。 B: さすが、店長は（ ）ですね。
The present polite form is most natural for a general compliment.
🎉 امتیاز: /5
سوالات متداول
4 سوالYes! You can use it to say someone has a 'keen eye' for talent or for choosing a good partner.
No, it's not rude, but it might feel a bit too 'evaluative'. It's better to use it for peers or customers.
There isn't a direct 'Me ga hikui' (low eyes). Instead, you'd say 'Me ga nai' (no eyes/no taste) or 'Sensus ga nai' (no sense).
No, it refers to the 'height' of one's standards or perspective.
عبارات مرتبط
{目|め}が{肥|こ}える
similarTo have one's taste refined by seeing many high-quality things.
{目利|めき}き
specialized formA person who is an expert at judging the quality of things.
{目|め}がない
contrastTo be extremely fond of something (to the point of losing judgment).
{目|め}を{付|つ}ける
builds onTo have an eye on something/someone.
کجا استفاده کنیم
At a Clothing Store
Shop Assistant: そのネクタイ、{新作|しんさく}なんですよ。お{客|きゃく}さんは{目|め}が{高|たか}いですね。
Customer: そうですか？ありがとうございます。
Visiting a Friend's House
Friend A: このソファ、ヴィンテージなんだ。
Friend B: かっこいいね！{目|め}が{高|たか}いなあ。
At an Art Gallery
Visitor A: この{絵|え}の{色使|いろづか}い、{天才的|てんさいてき}だと思わない？
Visitor B: そこに{気|き}づくなんて、{目|め}が{高|たか}いね。
Business Meeting (Hiring)
Manager: 新入社員の佐藤君、すごく優秀だね。
Director: 彼を採用した君は、目が高いよ。
Wine Tasting
Sommelier: こちらのワインの繊細な香りがお分かりですか？
Guest: はい、素晴らしいですね。
Sommelier: お目が高いです。
Flea Market
Seller: それ、実は江戸時代のものなんだよ。
Buyer: やっぱり！
Seller: お兄さん、目が高いね！
حفظ کنید
روش یادسپاری
Think of a person standing on a ladder (high) to look at a diamond through a magnifying glass (eye).
تداعی تصویری
Imagine a pair of eyes floating high above a crowd, spotting a single gold coin in a pile of copper. The 'height' gives them a better perspective to see what's truly valuable.
Rhyme
Me ga takai, you're the expert guy!
Story
A young apprentice tries to sell a fake vase to an old master. The master looks at it for one second and says, 'My eyes are too high for this.' The apprentice realizes he can't fool someone with such elevated standards.
In Other Languages
In English, we say 'to have a keen eye' or 'to have good taste.' In Spanish, 'tener buen ojo' (to have a good eye) is almost identical in structure and meaning.
شبکه واژگان
چالش
Next time you go shopping with a friend, wait for them to pick something out and say: '{目|め}が{高|たか}いですね！'
Recall the phrase whenever you see someone wearing something stylish or buying something high-quality.
تلفظ
Short 'e' sound, like in 'met'.
Flat 'ta', slightly higher 'ka', ending in a clear 'i'.
طیف رسمیت
お{客|きゃく}さまは、お{目|め}が{高|たか}いですね。 (Shopping)
{目|め}が{高|たか}いですね。 (Shopping)
{目|め}が{高|たか}いね！ (Shopping)
{目|め}が{高|たか}すぎ！ (Shopping)
The phrase dates back to the Edo period, where it was used by merchants and art appraisers. 'High' (takai) referred to the 'high level' of the standards required to judge an object.
نکته جالب
While 'takai' means expensive, 'me ga takai' doesn't mean your eyes are expensive—it means your standards are!
نکات فرهنگی
In high-end Japanese department stores (Depachika), staff are trained to use this phrase to validate the customer's ego and taste, encouraging a purchase.
“『お目が高いですね。こちらは一点物でございます。』”
Using this phrase for a superior can be a form of 'Goma-suri' (flattery/brown-nosing), but when used sincerely, it acknowledges their experience.
“『部長、このプロジェクトを選ばれるとは、さすがにお目が高いです。』”
The concept of 'Mekiki' (the person with the eye) is central to tea ceremonies, where the value of a bowl is determined by the 'eyes' of the masters.
“The master's 'high eyes' can see the universe in a simple bowl.”
On Japanese Instagram, you'll see the hashtag #お目が高い when people post unique fashion finds or aesthetic cafe photos.
“A comment on a post: 『これを選ぶなんて、お目が高い！』”
شروعکنندههای مکالمه
その{靴|くつ}、すごくおしゃれですね。どこで{買|か}ったんですか？
このレストランのワイン、どれが{一番|いちばん}いいと{思|おも}いますか？
اشتباهات رایج
{私|わたし}は{目|め}が{高|たか}いです。
{私|わたし}はこれが{好|す}きです。 (or similar)
L1 Interference
{目|め}が{大|おお}きいですね。
{目|め}が{高|たか}いですね。
L1 Interference
{目|め}が{高|たか}い{山|やま}。
{高|たか}い{山|やま}。
L1 Interference
{目|め}に{高|たか}い。
{目|め}が{高|たか}い。
L1 Interference
In Other Languages
Tener buen ojo
Spanish uses 'good' (buen) while Japanese uses 'high' (takai).
Avoir l'œil
French is more about the act of seeing, Japanese is about the 'level' of the eye.
Ein gutes Auge haben
German is often used for physical precision as well as aesthetic taste.
لديه نظرة ثاقبة (Ladayhi nazra thaqiba)
Arabic implies 'piercing' through a facade, Japanese implies 'high' standards.
{眼光|yǎnguāng} {高|gāo}
In Chinese, it can be an insult (too picky); in Japanese, it's almost always a compliment.
{眼目|안목}이 {高|높다} (Anmogi nopda)
Korean uses a more formal noun (Anmok) rather than just 'eye' (Nun).
Ter um olho clínico
Portuguese emphasizes precision/accuracy, Japanese emphasizes quality/value.
To have a keen eye
English uses 'keen' (sharpness), Japanese uses 'high' (elevation/standards).
Spotted in the Real World
“『あのスニーカーを{選|えら}ぶなんて、{目|め}が{高|たか}いね。』”
Commenting on a member's fashion choice.
“『この{素材|そざい}の{良|よ}さがわかるとは、お{前|まえ}も{目|め}が{高|たか}くなったな。』”
A father acknowledging his son's growing culinary discernment.
بهراحتی اشتباه گرفته میشود
Both start with 'Me ga' and an adjective/verb.
Me ga mawaru means 'dizzy' or 'very busy'. Think of your eyes spinning (mawaru).
Both use 'ga takai'.
Hana ga takai (nose is high) means to be proud. Me ga takai is about taste.
سوالات متداول (4)
Yes! You can use it to say someone has a 'keen eye' for talent or for choosing a good partner.
usage contextsNo, it's not rude, but it might feel a bit too 'evaluative'. It's better to use it for peers or customers.
practical tipsThere isn't a direct 'Me ga hikui' (low eyes). Instead, you'd say 'Me ga nai' (no eyes/no taste) or 'Sensus ga nai' (no sense).
comparisonsNo, it refers to the 'height' of one's standards or perspective.
basic understanding
