1An aim, destination, or purpose — the thing one is heading toward. Common in phrases like 当てもなく歩く (to walk aimlessly) and 旅行の当て (destination for a trip).
仕事を辞めたが、次の当てはまだない。
I quit my job, but I don't have my next move lined up yet.
当てもなく町をぶらぶら歩いた。
I wandered around town with no particular destination.
どこへ行くという当てもなく、ただ電車に乗った。
Without any destination in mind, I just got on the train.
2A prospect, lead, or expectation — something one anticipates will come through. Common in 当てがある (to have a prospect), 当てがない (to have none), and 当てが外れる (one's expectations are dashed). Used for jobs, support, housing, etc.
東京で泊まる当てがあるから安心して行ける。
I have somewhere lined up to stay in Tokyo, so I can go without worry.
援助の当てが外れて、計画を変えるしかなかった。
The support I'd been counting on fell through, so I had no choice but to change my plan.
彼女には来年からの仕事の当てがあるらしい。
She apparently has a job lined up for next year.
3Someone or something one can rely on. Mainly seen in 当てになる (reliable), 当てにする (to count on), and 当てにならない (unreliable).
あの人の話は当てにならない。
What that person says can't be relied on.
彼の助けを当てにしていたが、来てくれなかった。
I was counting on his help, but he didn't come.
天気予報は今日はあまり当てにならない。
Today's weather forecast isn't very reliable.
4(Kansai dialect) A snack or small dish served with alcoholic drinks. Everyday usage in the Kansai region; speakers in Tokyo and elsewhere typically say つまみ / おつまみ instead. Usually written in hiragana as あて.
とりあえずビールと、あては枝豆で。
Let's start with a beer and edamame as a snack.
この店はあての種類が多くて飲み助には嬉しい。
This place has lots of bar snacks — a treat for any drinker.
5Used as a suffix to denote a pad, guard, or patch that protects against impact or wear. Appears in compounds like 肩当て (shoulder pad), ひじ当て (elbow pad), ひざ当て (knee pad), and similar protective fittings on clothes or furniture.
古いコートの肩当てがほつれている。
The shoulder pad of the old coat is fraying.
スケートでは、転んでも痛くないようにひざ当てをつける。
When skating, you wear knee pads so falls don't hurt.
6An older word for a blow or strike. In modern Japanese it rarely stands alone — it survives mostly in compounds like 当て身 (a martial-arts striking technique) and 当て逃げ (hit-and-run involving a parked vehicle).
柔道の試合では当て身技は禁じられている。
Striking techniques (atemi) are forbidden in judo matches.
駐車場で当て逃げされて、車の傷を直すのに苦労した。
Someone hit my car in the parking lot and fled — fixing the damage was a hassle.
7As a suffix meaning 'addressed to,' indicating the recipient of a letter, package, or email — e.g., 山田様宛 (addressed to Mr. Yamada), 営業部宛 (to the sales department). The form 宛 (without て) is most common; 宛て is also seen.
封筒に「山田様宛」と書いて、ポストに入れた。
I wrote 'To Mr. Yamada' on the envelope and dropped it in the mailbox.
この書類は人事部長宛に提出してください。
Please submit this document to the head of HR.
母宛の小包が届いた。
A package addressed to my mother arrived.
8Used as a suffix meaning 'per' (e.g., 一人あて = per person, 一世帯あて = per household). In modern Japanese, あたり and につき are more common; あて feels somewhat old-fashioned or formal. Usually written in kana; sometimes written 充て.
支援金は一世帯あて十万円が支給された。
Aid of 100,000 yen per household was distributed.
参加費は一人あて二千円となります。
The participation fee is 2,000 yen per person.