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5
当たる

To Be Right

Meaning

To Be Right, To Be On Target, To Touch, To Hit

Word Type

intransitive verb, godan verb

Explanation

You know this is a verb because it ends with an う sound. The kanji for this word is right or success, so what's the verb form of that? Turns out it's a ton of things. But it's mostly for when things go right. As in to be right or to be on target. 当たる is intransitive, so it doesn't take a direct object. Your answer is right, or your shot is on target. See? No direct object.

Reading

あたる

Explanation

Since this word consists of a kanji with hiragana attached, you can bet that it will use the kun'yomi reading. You didn't learn that reading with this kanji, so here's a mnemonic to help you to remember the あ portion. When your guess turns out to be right, you can't help but shout, "Ah! (あ)" That "Ah" is your victory cry.

Context

Patterns of Use

Common Word Combinations

  • 光が当たる

    the light hits, the light shines

    日が当たる

    the sun hits, the sun shines

  • これに当たる

    to hit this one

    クジに当たる

    to win the lottery

Context Sentences

自分の予想が当たって、嬉しいです。

I’m glad my guess was right.

人に石が当たったらどうするんだ。

If a person was hit with a stone, what would you do?

まんいんでん車で、手がとなりの女のしりに当たってしまい、ちかんにまちがえられたらどうしようと不あんでいっぱいになった。

In a packed train, my hand accidentally touched the butt of the woman next to me and I was so worried I’d be mistaken for a molester.

Kanji Composition