goi Back to the route map日本語

Use the left and right arrow keys, or swipe the sign, to move to the next word.

Meaning

onlookers see more of the game

People watching from the side can see the truth of a matter, and what is to be gained or lost, better than those involved. Also written 傍目八目.

Example

岡目八目というから、自分の企画書は人に読んでもらうことにしている。

Onlookers see more of the game, so I make a point of having someone else read my proposals.

Origin

The phrase comes from go and is listed as a go term in Sewa Zukushi, an early Edo-period reference book for haikai. Oka indicates a position with no direct involvement, and okame means an onlooker. Hachimoku is widely interpreted as being able to read eight moves ahead, but another theory holds that since moku is a unit for counting territory, it means seeing moves that gain eight points.

Sources