目次（もくじ、mokuji）
- table of contents

The Japanese word 目次 （もくじ） means "table of contents" or "index." It lists the chapters, sections, or topics covered in a book, document, or other organized body of work, along with their corresponding page numbers or locations. Its purpose is to help readers quickly find specific information within the material. The 目次 provides an overview of the content's structure.

⚫︎この本の目次を見てください。 Translation: Please look at the table of contents of this book. ⚫︎目次によると、その章は10ページから始まります。 Translation: According to the table of contents, that chapter starts on page 10. ⚫︎レポートの目次を作成する必要があります。 Translation: You need to create a table of contents for the report.

目次 is used when referring to the list of contents in any structured written work. It's appropriate for books, articles, reports, websites, and any document where you want to show an organized breakdown of its components. You would use it when: ⚫︎Referring to the table of contents itself. ⚫︎Directing someone to a specific section. ⚫︎Discussing the organization of the content.

⚫︎The word is primarily written in kanji as 目次. ⚫︎The reading, or pronunciation, is もくじ in hiragana. ⚫︎There are no significant variations in the okurigana for this word.

There are no direct, commonly used synonyms for 目次 in Japanese. The closest related term might be 索引（さくいん), which means "index," but it usually refers to an alphabetical index of keywords or concepts, rather than a chapter breakdown.

There are no direct antonyms for 目次. However, the concept is the opposite of a disorganized structure.

この論文の目次は非常に分かりやすいです。 ・Translation: The table of contents for this paper is very easy to understand. ・Explanation: This sentence praises the clarity and helpfulness of the table of contents.

目次で確認してから、本文を読んでください。 ・Translation: Please check the table of contents before reading the main text. ・Explanation: This sentence encourages readers to use the table of contents to navigate the material.

目次 is a compound word: ⚫︎目（もく） means "eye" or "view." In this context, it refers to the "view" or "overview" of the content. ⚫︎次（じ） means "order," "sequence," or "item." Therefore, 目次 literally translates to something like "overview of order" or "overview of items," conveying the function of providing an overview of the content's order or structure.