1To hit or strike something; for an object or force to make physical contact with a target.
ボールが窓に当たって、ガラスが割れてしまった。
The ball hit the window and the glass broke.
彼のパンチが相手の顎に当たった。
His punch landed on his opponent's jaw.
矢が見事に的の中心に当たった。
The arrow struck the exact center of the target.
2To touch or be in contact with something; to be pressed against it.
テーブルの角にひじが当たって痛かった。
My elbow hit the corner of the table and it hurt.
髪が顔に当たって気になる。
My hair keeps touching my face and it's bothering me.
3To correspond to or apply to something, such as a rule or regulation; often used as 〜に当たる.
その行為は法律上、詐欺に当たる可能性がある。
That act could legally constitute fraud.
この制度は欧米の年金制度に当たるものだ。
This system corresponds to what's known as a pension system in Europe and the US.
無断欠勤は就業規則違反に当たる。
An unauthorized absence constitutes a violation of the work rules.
4For a prediction, criticism, etc. to be exactly right; to hit the mark.
君の予想は見事に当たったね。
Your prediction was spot on.
占い師の言ったことが不気味なくらい当たっていた。
What the fortune-teller said was uncannily accurate.
5To be selected in a lottery or drawing; to win a prize.
宝くじで十万円が当たった。
I won 100,000 yen in the lottery.
抽選で無料チケットが当たったので観に行った。
I won free tickets in a drawing, so I went to see it.
今回は残念ながら誰も当たらなかった。
Unfortunately, nobody won this time.
6To be successful or become a hit, such as a business venture or a creative work.
新製品が市場で当たって、売り上げが一気に伸びた。
The new product was a hit in the market, and sales shot up.
彼の映画は当たって、シリーズ化することになった。
His film was a success, and it ended up being turned into a series.
7To face or be matched against someone, such as an opponent or negotiating counterpart.
次の試合で去年の優勝チームに当たることになった。
We ended up being matched against last year's championship team in the next match.
面接で厳しい質問に当たって、うまく答えられなかった。
I ran into some tough questions in the interview and couldn't answer them well.
8To lie in, or correspond to, a certain direction or region; often used as 〜に当たる.
この町は県の北部に当たる。
This town lies in the northern part of the prefecture.
そこはちょうど図書館の裏に当たる場所だ。
That spot is just about right behind the library.
9For a task or role to be assigned to someone, or for someone to take it on.
今月の司会は私に当たった。
I was assigned to emcee this month.
この案件は経験豊富な彼に当たるべきだ。
This case should fall to him, given his experience.
10To be stricken by an ailment such as food poisoning or heatstroke.
昨日の刺身で食中毒に当たったらしい。
It seems I got food poisoning from yesterday's sashimi.
炎天下に長時間いて、熱中症に当たって倒れた。
He collapsed from heatstroke after being out in the blazing sun for hours.
11To be called on, such as by a teacher in class.
授業中に突然当たって、答えに詰まってしまった。
I was suddenly called on in class and got stuck for an answer.
今日は私が当たったので、しっかり準備して発表した。
I was the one called on today, so I prepared properly and presented.
12To lash out at someone or treat them harshly, taking out one's anger or frustration on them.
彼は上司に叱られて、帰宅後に家族に当たった。
He got scolded by his boss and then took it out on his family when he got home.
疲れているときほど人に当たらないよう気をつけたい。
I want to be extra careful not to snap at people when I'm tired.
13To be unwarranted or unnecessary, used in phrases like 〜するには当たらない, "there's no need to..."
そこまで心配するには当たらないと思うよ。
I don't think there's any need to worry that much.
その程度のミスなら、責めるには当たらない。
A mistake that minor doesn't warrant being blamed.
14In baseball, to be hitting well or on a hitting streak; usually used as 当たっている.
最近彼はよく当たっていて、打率がぐんぐん上がっている。
He's been on a hitting streak lately, and his batting average keeps climbing.
15In fishing, to feel a bite from a fish.
今日は朝から全然当たらない。
Nothing's been biting at all since this morning.
16For fruit, etc. to become bruised or spoiled from impact.
箱の底のリンゴが当たって、いくつか傷んでいた。
The apples at the bottom of the box got bruised, and a few had gone bad.
17To consult sources or documents in order to check or verify something.
まず過去の判例に当たって、事実関係を確かめた。
First, I consulted past case rulings to verify the facts.
18To shave something by applying a blade to it.
床屋で顔に当たってもらい、きれいに剃り上げた。
I had the barber shave my face nice and clean.
19Used as 〜の〜に当たる to express that a person stands in a particular relationship (e.g. family relation) to someone else.
彼は私の母の弟に当たる、つまり叔父だ。
He is my mother's younger brother — in other words, my uncle.
この役職は会社で副社長に当たるポジションだ。
This position corresponds to that of vice president within the company.