Proverb / Kotowaza
惚れた欲目
Seeing someone you love as more exceptional or attractive than they truly are.
A biased eye through being in love
Quick Answer
Seeing someone you love as more exceptional or attractive than they truly are.
- Literal Image
- A biased eye through being in love
- How to Use It
- Used to describe how someone's romantic feelings prevent them from seeing a person objectively, or to tease someone who is overly infatuated.
Meaning
When a person is in love, they tend to view their partner through a biased lens, causing them to appear more beautiful, talented, or virtuous than they are in reality. This subjective perspective leads to overlooking flaws or exaggerating positive traits.
Literal Image
A biased eye through being in love
How to Use It
Used to describe how someone's romantic feelings prevent them from seeing a person objectively, or to tease someone who is overly infatuated.
Tone
Carries a slightly critical or observant tone regarding someone else's infatuation.
Examples
彼が世界一かっこいいと言っているが、それは惚れた欲目だろう。
They say he is the most handsome man in the world, but that is likely just a biased eye from being in love.
惚れた欲目で、彼女のわがままも可愛く見えるらしい。
It seems that through the biased lens of love, even her selfishness looks cute to him.
友人のノロケ話を聞かされ、惚れた欲目の恐ろしさを知った。
After listening to my friend brag about their partner, I realized how frighteningly biased one's eyes can become when in love.
Learning Notes
Key Vocabulary
Uses the verb 'horeta' combined with the specialized noun 'yokume', which requires understanding how kanji for desire and eye form the concept of bias.
惚れた
ほれた / horeta
fallen in love
欲目
よくめ / yokume
partial view; biased/favorable eye
Usage Profile
Usage note: While it can be used for teasing, be careful not to use it in a way that sounds overly dismissive of someone's genuine feelings.
Misread Risk
Do not confuse 'yokume' with simple greed; in this context, it specifically refers to a bias created by one's own desires or hopes.
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Related Proverbs
Origin
The term 'yokume' (欲目) refers to the act of looking at things in a way that is convenient for oneself. The proverb implies that because of the 'desire' (yoku) inherent in being in love, a person loses their objective judgment and sees their partner through a distorted, favorable lens.
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Source Note
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