Translation and Meaning of: 当たる - ataru

If you have ever wondered how the Japanese express diverse situations like "hitting a target," "being lucky," or even "facing a problem," the answer lies in a versatile word: 当たる (あたる). In this article, you will discover the fascinating origin of this term, its use in everyday Japanese, and even tips for memorizing it effectively. Here at Suki Nihongo, the largest online Japanese dictionary, you will also find practical examples to include in your Anki and boost your studies.

Etymology and Pictogram: The History Behind 当たる

The kanji 当 (tou) carries the idea of "hitting" or "being appropriate". Its stroke order refers to a target being hit, which explains why 当たる is often associated with situations of precision or correspondence. Interestingly, this character also appears in words like 当然 (touzen), which means "obvious" or "natural", reinforcing the notion of something that "fits" perfectly.

In the ancient language, the verb derived from the physical sense of "collide," but over time gained metaphorical layers. Imagine an archer hitting the center of the target – this image helps to understand how the term evolved to mean both "being hit" and "succeeding." A valuable tip: note that the root ⺌ (small) in the kanji suggests something that "connects" on a smaller scale, like pieces of a puzzle.

Everyday Lies: When Do the Japanese Say あたる?

In practice, 当たる is a linguistic wild card. In an izakaya, you might hear "このビール、当たったかも" ("This beer might be spoiled"), while on TV a reporter says "台風が関東に当たりそう" ("The typhoon is likely to hit Kanto"). The flexibility is such that even weather forecasts use this verb – who hasn't seen "明日は雨が当たる確率50%" in apps?

A curious situation happens with gambling games. When someone wins the lottery, the Japanese do not simply say "I won," but "宝くじが当たった!" (literally "the lottery hit me"). This inversion of perspective reveals how the language views luck as something that "hits" the person, not the other way around. Try using this expression when you make a correct guess – locals will love it!

Memory Tips and Cultural Curiosities

To reinforce 当たる, create visual associations. Think of a dart hitting a target (original meaning) and then imagine the same dart "hitting" a raffle prize (figurative meaning). A technique that worked for me was to memorize the phrase "占いが当たって怖い" ("The prediction hit and it was scary"), which went viral on Japanese Twitter after a fortune teller correctly predicted an earthquake.

Did you know there is even a pun with this verb? In spring, some restaurants promote the "桜当たる" (sakura ataru), a play on words between "cherry blossoms" and "lucky," where customers win discounts if they order special dishes. These details show how the Japanese language transforms even abstract concepts into concrete experiences – and now you are ready to "hit" in the use of this multifaceted verb!

Vocabulary

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Synonyms and similar words

• 当たり (atari) - Got it, luck
• 当てる (ateru) - Hit, reach, apply
• 当てはまる (atehamaru) - If applicable, if it fits
• 合う (au) - Combine, fit, match
• 適合する (tekigou suru) - To fit, to be compatible