皆目

1. Origins, structure, and basic meaning

• Structure: 皆目(かいもく) is an adverb meaning not at all or not in the slightest. Read it as a whole expression rather than interpreting each character separately.
• Basic usage: It strongly emphasizes not knowing or being unable to guess, as in 皆目分からなかった.

2. Common pitfalls and similar expressions

• Used with negative expressions
  • 皆目見当がつかない means having absolutely no idea. 皆目 normally accompanies negative expressions of this kind.
• Broader uses of 全く
  • 全く(まったく) also occurs with affirmative content, as in 全く同じ. Do not freely replace it with 皆目 simply to mean completely.