Japanese word

当てる

Pronunciation

Romajiateru

Meaning

  • verbhit

Example

ボールを壁に当てます。bō ru o kabe ni a te ma su

I hit the ball against the wall.

Illustration for 当てる (hit)

More examples

ダーツで、狙った場所に矢を当てます。dā tsu de nera tta ba sho ni ya o a te ma su

In darts, I hit the spot I aimed for with my dart.

Core concept

Makes something meet a target, from a physical object striking a place to an answer matching an unknown fact.

Common phrases

  • 的に当てるteki ni a te ru

    hit the target

  • ボールを壁に当てるbō ru o kabe ni a te ru

    hit a ball against a wall

Similar words

ぶつけるbutsukeru: To make an object hit another object or surface with force.

Definition in Japanese

物を狙った所に届かせてぶつける。mono o nera tta tokoro ni todo ka se te bu tsu ke ru

Word origin

当てる (ateru) is a native Japanese verb paired with the intransitive 当たる (ataru, "to hit or fit"); this transitive pairing expresses causing contact or a correct match.

Usage tips

  • When describing where an object should strike, Japanese commonly marks the target with に (ni) after naming the object with を (o).

Other meanings

  • guessverb

Opposites

Related words

  • 当て方atekataway of hittingnoun

Word lists with this word