眼
Mnemonic
A footballer takes a cleat straight to the eye during a match — and out pops the entire eyeball! It rolls across the pitch like a tiny soccer ball. Horrified players freeze as the eyeball slowly spins to a stop right on the penalty spot.
Additional thoughts
Picture the gory detail: a round, glistening eyeball rolling on green grass like a misplaced ball. The footballer clutches his empty eye socket. The visceral image locks Eye + Footballer = Eyeball.Quick recall
A footballer gets kicked in the eye so hard the whole eyeball pops out and rolls across the pitch.Details
The keyword for 眼 is eyeball. This kanji refers specifically to the physical organ of sight—the eye itself as a concrete, tangible object rather than as an abstract concept related to vision. It carries a more formal or technical nuance compared to the simpler character 目, and is often used in medical, scientific, or literary contexts. It can also extend metaphorically to mean insight, discernment, or a critical way of seeing things.
- On'yomi
- がん、げん
- Kun'yomi
- まなこ、め