食べ物に当たる

• Reading: たべものにあたる
• Romaji: tabemono ni ataru
• Kanji breakdown: 食 (shoku/ta) — eat, food; 物 (butsu/mono) — thing; 当 (tou/a) — hit, strike
• Pronunciation: /ta.be.mo.no.ni.a.ta.ɾɯ/

Meaning

To get food poisoning. To become ill from eating contaminated or spoiled food.

A phrase using the verb 当たる (ataru) in its 'to be struck/affected' sense. The full expression means being negatively affected by food — getting food poisoning. Can be shortened to just 当たる when the food context is clear, as in 牡蠣に当たった (kaki ni atatta, got sick from oysters). Distinct from the standard meaning of 当たる (to hit, to win, to be correct).

Examples

1. 昨日の刺身で食べ物に当たったかもしれない。 I might have gotten food poisoning from yesterday's sashimi.
2. 夏場は食べ物に当たりやすいから注意が必要だ。 You need to be careful in summer because food poisoning is more likely.
3. 旅行先で食べ物に当たって一日中寝込んでいた。 I got food poisoning while traveling and was bedridden all day.

Usage Guide

Context: health, food, travel

Tone: cautionary

Origin & History

From native Japanese 当たる (ataru, to strike/hit). The metaphor is of being 'struck' or 'hit' by bad food — the food attacks the body.

Cultural Context

Era: Modern

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal