見る目がない
見る目がない
みる め が ない
having no power of observation; being unable to recognize (the quality of someone or something)
Literally: “see + eye + が + doesn’t have”
This 慣用句 (かんようく // phrasal idiom) is used when referring to a person's lack of ability to discern or recognize the quality of someone or something.
見る目がない is most commonly used when talking about a person's inability to judge the quality of other people. In particular, it is used a lot when talking about being bad at picking potential partners for intimate relationships.
First, let's look at a rather lengthy, loosely translated definition of this idiom:
物事を正しく評価・洞察するための知識や観察力を持ち合わせていない、能力がないさまなどを意味する表現。
ものごと を ただしく ひょうか ・ どうさつ する ため の ちしき や かんさつりょく を もちあわせていない、 のうりょく が ない さま など を いみ する ひょうげん。
a phrase describing the state of not having the capacity, knowledge, power of observation, etc. in order to accurately evaluate or discern things
Literally: “things + を + accurately + assess / evaluate + discernment / insight + do + in order to + の + knowledge + や + power of observation + を + is not having on hand, + ability + が + doesn’t have + state / condition + and so on + を + meaning + does + phrase / expression”
Source: weblio辞書
So, like I said above, 見る目がない is used when describing someone's inability to recognize the quality of someone or something.
Let's say that you're a struggling actor, and you just tried out for a part on a TV show.
Sadly, you didn't get the part.
Being the good friend that I am, I tell you...
君を不合格にするなんて、見る目がない審査員だなあ。
きみ を ふごうかく に する なんて、 みる め が ない しんさいん だ なあ。
I can’t believe the director didn't pick you. He must be blind.
Literally: “you + を + failure + に + do + to say/think that, + see + eye + が + doesn’t have + judge / examiner + だ + なあ.”
Note: Our English translation is quite different from the literal one due to the context in which the sentence is appearing: The listener has failed to get an acting gig.
You and I are gossiping about our mutual friend Asuka, who we think has questionable taste in men.
This dialogue follows...
A:
明日香の新しい彼氏、仕事してないんだって。
あすか の あたらしい かれし、 しごと してない んだ って。
I guess Asuka’s new boyfriend isn’t working. // Apparently, Asuka’s new boyfriend isn’t working.
Literally: “Asuka + の + new + boyfriend, + job / work + isn’t doing + んだ + って (=[hearsay marker]).”
B:
またニート？？まじ男見る目なさすぎ。
また ニート？？ まじ おとこ みる め なさすぎ。
She’s dating another guy without a job? She really can pick ‘em.
Literally: “again + unemployed (and typically living at home) / NEET (=not in education, employment, or training)?? + seriously + men / guys + see + eye + doesn’t have enough (lit. too doesn’t have).”
Note: The second sentence in the English translation is sarcastic. The speaker thinks that "she" (=her friend) is terrible at choosing men.
It is possible to say 見る目がある instead of 見る目がない when someone does have a good eye for the quality of someone or something.
For example, we could say:
彼は芸術を見る目がある。
かれ は げいじゅつ を みる め が ある。
He has an eye for art.
Literally: “he + は + art + を + see + eye + が + has.”
You are a young woman. You just brought your boyfriend over to meet your family.
He has a bunch of piercings and tattoos, and you're used to people judging him right away. In particular, your mom wasn't too fond of him.
Your grandma counters her opinion, however, by saying that he seemed like a nice guy. She liked him.
Grateful, you tell your grandma...
さすがおばあちゃん、人を見る目があるね！
さすが おばあちゃん、 ひと を みる め が ある ね！
You have such a good eye for people, Grandma.
Literally: “as one would expect + Grandma, + person + を + see + eye + が + have + ね!”
Finished!
Complete and Continue
みる め が ない
having no power of observation; being unable to recognize (the quality of someone or something)
Literally: “see + eye + が + doesn’t have”
This 慣用句 (かんようく // phrasal idiom) is used when referring to a person's lack of ability to discern or recognize the quality of someone or something.
見る目がない is most commonly used when talking about a person's inability to judge the quality of other people. In particular, it is used a lot when talking about being bad at picking potential partners for intimate relationships.
First, let's look at a rather lengthy, loosely translated definition of this idiom:
物事を正しく評価・洞察するための知識や観察力を持ち合わせていない、能力がないさまなどを意味する表現。
ものごと を ただしく ひょうか ・ どうさつ する ため の ちしき や かんさつりょく を もちあわせていない、 のうりょく が ない さま など を いみ する ひょうげん。
a phrase describing the state of not having the capacity, knowledge, power of observation, etc. in order to accurately evaluate or discern things
Literally: “things + を + accurately + assess / evaluate + discernment / insight + do + in order to + の + knowledge + や + power of observation + を + is not having on hand, + ability + が + doesn’t have + state / condition + and so on + を + meaning + does + phrase / expression”
Source: weblio辞書
So, like I said above, 見る目がない is used when describing someone's inability to recognize the quality of someone or something.
Let's say that you're a struggling actor, and you just tried out for a part on a TV show.
Sadly, you didn't get the part.
Being the good friend that I am, I tell you...
君を不合格にするなんて、見る目がない審査員だなあ。
きみ を ふごうかく に する なんて、 みる め が ない しんさいん だ なあ。
I can’t believe the director didn't pick you. He must be blind.
Literally: “you + を + failure + に + do + to say/think that, + see + eye + が + doesn’t have + judge / examiner + だ + なあ.”
Note: Our English translation is quite different from the literal one due to the context in which the sentence is appearing: The listener has failed to get an acting gig.
You and I are gossiping about our mutual friend Asuka, who we think has questionable taste in men.
This dialogue follows...
A:
明日香の新しい彼氏、仕事してないんだって。
あすか の あたらしい かれし、 しごと してない んだ って。
I guess Asuka’s new boyfriend isn’t working. // Apparently, Asuka’s new boyfriend isn’t working.
Literally: “Asuka + の + new + boyfriend, + job / work + isn’t doing + んだ + って (=[hearsay marker]).”
B:
またニート？？まじ男見る目なさすぎ。
また ニート？？ まじ おとこ みる め なさすぎ。
She’s dating another guy without a job? She really can pick ‘em.
Literally: “again + unemployed (and typically living at home) / NEET (=not in education, employment, or training)?? + seriously + men / guys + see + eye + doesn’t have enough (lit. too doesn’t have).”
Note: The second sentence in the English translation is sarcastic. The speaker thinks that "she" (=her friend) is terrible at choosing men.
It is possible to say 見る目がある instead of 見る目がない when someone does have a good eye for the quality of someone or something.
For example, we could say:
彼は芸術を見る目がある。
かれ は げいじゅつ を みる め が ある。
He has an eye for art.
Literally: “he + は + art + を + see + eye + が + has.”
You are a young woman. You just brought your boyfriend over to meet your family.
He has a bunch of piercings and tattoos, and you're used to people judging him right away. In particular, your mom wasn't too fond of him.
Your grandma counters her opinion, however, by saying that he seemed like a nice guy. She liked him.
Grateful, you tell your grandma...
さすがおばあちゃん、人を見る目があるね！
さすが おばあちゃん、 ひと を みる め が ある ね！
You have such a good eye for people, Grandma.
Literally: “as one would expect + Grandma, + person + を + see + eye + が + have + ね!”
Finished!
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