該当

• Reading: がいとう
• Romaji: gaitou
• Kanji breakdown: 該 (gai) — applicable, correspond; 当 (tou) — hit, apply, correspond
• Pronunciation: /ɡa.i.toː/

Meaning

Applicable; corresponding to a specific category, condition, or requirement.

A noun and suru verb used to indicate that something falls under a particular category or meets certain criteria. Extremely common in forms, legal documents, and official communications. Often appears as 該当する (to be applicable) or 該当なし (not applicable).

Examples

1. この条件に該当する人は申請書を提出してください。 Those who meet this condition should submit an application form.
2. 該当する項目にチェックを入れてください。 Please check the applicable items.
3. 彼の症状はどの病名にも該当しなかった。 His symptoms did not correspond to any diagnosis.

Usage Guide

Context: forms, legal, business, bureaucracy

Tone: formal

Origin & History

Compound of 該 (applicable, said) + 当 (hit, apply). Both kanji carry the sense of matching or hitting a target, reinforcing the meaning of correspondence.

Cultural Context

Era: Modern

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal