What is the difference between 目を細める and 眼を細める


Example:

> 「できるのか？」【大男】
>
> 大男が眼を細めてくる

The definition for the first expression as given from
[weblio](http://www.weblio.jp/content/%E7%9B%AE%E3%82%92%E7%B4%B0%E3%82%81%E3%82%8B)
is

> 目の開き方を小さくする。
>
> うれしそうにほほえみをうかべる

Is the reason that this line uses 眼 instead of 目 to make it so that the reader
understands that it would mean the first definition or does this mean the
second definition?

Thanks.




The expression 「[目]{め}を[細]{ほそ}める」 (with 目, not [眼]{め}) already has two
meanings to begin with.

> Literal: "to squint"
>
> Figurative: "to smile in delight (at the sight of something/someone one is
> fond of)"

Which one it means should be clear from the context as the two meanings are
quite different from each other.

However, some people would choose to use 「眼」 for their own aesthetic reasons.
The language is very tolerant toward these personal aesthetic choices,
especially in creative writing.

When 「眼」 is used in the expression in question, it would mostly (but still not
always) be used for the literal meaning of "to squint", but if it were
unclear, one would always have the context to decide on the meaning.




The expression 「[目]{め}を[細]{ほそ}める」 (with 目, not [眼]{め}) already has two
meanings to begin with.

> Literal: "to squint"
>
> Figurative: "to smile in delight (at the sight of something/someone one is
> fond of)"

Which one it means should be clear from the context as the two meanings are
quite different from each other.

However, some people would choose to use 「眼」 for their own aesthetic reasons.
The language is very tolerant toward these personal aesthetic choices,
especially in creative writing.

When 「眼」 is used in the expression in question, it would mostly (but still not
always) be used for the literal meaning of "to squint", but if it were
unclear, one would always have the context to decide on the meaning.

