当 means “hit, right”

あたる · ataru

Also: appropriate, himself

Kun'yomi (Japanese reading)

あたる, あたり, あてる, あて, まさに

On'yomi (Chinese reading)

トウ

JLPT N3 · Taught in grade 2 · 6 strokes

The story

Picture three darts thudding into the board below: a hit. 当たる is to hit or to win, a 当たり ice-pop stick gets you another one free, and 本当, "really", is right on the mark.

Used in 本当 (hontou, true/really), 当たる (ataru, to hit/win), and 弁当 (bentou, boxed lunch)

Words with 当

• 本当 (ほんとう, hontou): really / truth

More from Cause & Reason

• 性 nature
• 的 target
• 要 need
• 直 straight
• 果 fruit
• 必 certain
• 無 nothing
• 常 usual
• 由 reason
• 例 example
• 然 so
• 限 limit

Learn 当 and more kanji free on Fuji Learning · All kanji

Readings from KANJIDIC2, © EDRDG, CC BY-SA.