見当

• Reading: けんとう
• Romaji: kentou
• Kanji breakdown: 見 (ken) — see, look; 当 (tou) — hit, apply
• Pronunciation: /ke.n.toː/

Meaning

Estimate; guess; rough idea. An approximate judgment about something uncertain.

A noun commonly used in the expression 見当がつく (kentou ga tsuku, to have a rough idea) and its negative 見当がつかない (to have no idea). Also appears in 見当違い (kentou chigai, wrong guess, off the mark). Different from 検討 (kentou, examination/consideration), which is a common homophone.

Examples

1. 犯人の見当がだいたいついている。 Please let me consider this plan a little more.
2. いくらかかるか見当もつかない。 Experts are examining the data in detail.
3. それは完全に見当違いだと思う。 I'm still considering whether or not to move.

Usage Guide

Context: everyday speech, investigation, estimation

Tone: neutral

Origin & History

Composed of 見 (see, look) and 当 (hit, apply). The combination suggests aiming one's sight at a target, which extended to mean making an approximate judgment or estimate.

Cultural Context

Era: Edo period

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal