狙 means “aim at, target”

ねらう · nerau

Also: sight, shadow, stalk

Kun'yomi (Japanese reading)

ねらう, ねらい

On'yomi (Chinese reading)

ソ, ショ

JLPT N1 · Taught in secondary school · 8 strokes

The story

An animal (犭) beside 且, crouched low: picture a fox frozen still, eyes locked on its prey. 狙う is to aim at, 狙撃 is sniping, and 狙い目 is the perfect target, a bargain or the best moment to strike.

Used in 狙う (nerau, to aim at), 狙い (nerai, aim/goal), and 狙撃 (sogeki, sniping)

More from Attack & Conquer

• 闘 fight
• 衝 collide
• 奪 snatch
• 挑 challenge
• 侵 invade
• 襲 attack
• 敵 enemy
• 征 conquer
• 虜 captive
• 伐 cut down
• 撃 strike
• 討 attack

Learn 狙 and more kanji free on Fuji Learning · All kanji

Readings from KANJIDIC2, © EDRDG, CC BY-SA.