目を付ける

目(め) (me, “eye”) + を (o, object marker) + 付(つ)ける (tsukeru, “to attach”)

• IPA^(key): [me̞ o̞ t͡sɨke̞ɾɯ̟]

目(め)を付(つ)ける • (me o tsukeru) ichidan (stem 目(め)を付(つ)け (me o tsuke), past 目(め)を付(つ)けた (me o tsuketa))

1. to have one's eye on

   彼(かれ)は十年前(じゅうねんまえ)からその俳優(はいゆう)に目(め)を付(つ)けていたので、彼(かれ)が有名(ゆうめい)になったのを見(み)て嬉(うれ)しそうだ。

   Kare wa jū-nen-mae kara sono haiyū ni me o tsukete ita node, kare ga yūmei ni natta no o mite ureshisō da.

   He has had his eye on the actor for 10 years, so he looks happy to see that the actor has become famous.

2. to mark somebody (as a target of bullying)

   あの暴君(ぼうくん)に目(め)を付(つ)けられたら、生(い)きては帰(かえ)れない。

   Ano bōkun ni me o tsukeraretara, ikite wa kaerenai.

   If you are marked by that tyrant, you can never come back alive.