Japanese word

見当

Pronunciation

Romajikentō

Meaning

  • nounidea

Example

この問題の答えは見当がつきません。ko no mon dai no kota e wa ken tō ga tsu ki ma se n

I have no idea what the answer to this problem is.

Illustration for 見当 (idea)

More examples

予算の見当をつけてから、旅行の計画を立てます。yo san no ken tō o tsu ke te ka ra ryo kō no kei kaku o ta te ma su

I make an estimate of the budget before planning the trip.

Core concept

It expresses an approximate idea or estimate formed when the available information does not give a definite answer.

Common phrases

  • 見当がつくken tō ga tsu ku

    get an idea

  • 見当がつかないken tō ga tsu ka na i

    have no idea

  • 見当をつけるken tō o tsu ke ru

    make an estimate

Similar words

推測suisoku: An inference made from facts or clues that are not complete.
目安meyasu: A general guide for estimating an amount, time, or level.
見込みmikomi: The likelihood that something will happen or succeed.
予想yosō: A judgment about a future event or result.

Definition in Japanese

問題や状況について立てる、おおよその考えや予測。mon dai ya jō kyō ni tsu i te ta te ru ō yo so no kanga e ya yo soku

Word origin

見当 (kentō) is a Japanese compound of 見 (ken, "seeing") and 当 (tō, "fitting" or "hitting"); the sense developed from a target or direction to an approximate judgment.

Usage tips

  • Unlike the English word "idea," 見当 (kentō) often concerns a rough judgment based on available clues, so 見当がつかない (kentō ga tsukanai) can describe uncertainty about timing, cause, or an answer.

Other meanings

  • estimatenoun
  • guessnoun

Word lists with this word