当てる

• Reading: あてる
• Romaji: ateru
• Kanji breakdown: 当 (ateru/tou) — hit, apply, right
• Pronunciation: /a.te.ɾɯ/

Meaning

To hit (a target); to apply to; to guess correctly. The transitive counterpart of 当たる.

A Group 2 (ichidan) transitive verb. Paired with the intransitive 当たる. Meanings include: to hit a target deliberately (的に当てる), to apply something (手を額に当てる), to guess correctly (答えを当てる), to assign someone (担当に当てる), and to expose to (日に当てる). Very versatile.

Examples

1. クイズの答えを見事に当てた。 I nailed the quiz answer perfectly.
2. 手をおでこに当てて熱を確かめた。 I put my hand on my forehead to check for a fever.
3. ボールを的に当てるのは難しい。 It's hard to hit the ball on the target.

Usage Guide

Context: quizzes, daily life, sports

Tone: neutral

Origin & History

From 当 (ateru, to apply/hit). The transitive form of 当たる — where 当たる is 'something hits,' 当てる is 'to make something hit.'

Cultural Context

Era: Classical

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal