には当たらないno call to; hardly warrants
You weigh a reaction against the facts and find it uncalled for: surprise, dismay, blame, praise. It is a cool, written judgment: "there is no call to …".
Given his ability, this win is no cause for surprise.
Some of the figures need correcting, but the conclusion stands, so there is no call to condemn the report as a whole.
How to form it
Verb (dictionary form) + には当たらない
A verb of reacting or judging. は can drop: 驚くに当たらない. A noun for the reaction goes straight on: 称賛には当たらない.
- Before it
- A reaction or a judgment: 驚く, 嘆く, 悲観する, 落胆する, 非難する, 責める, 称賛する. The one you will meet most is 驚くには当たらない.
- Often with
- The reason, said first: …のだから, …ので, …を考えれば.
- Where you'll meet it
- Editorials, commentary, reports, speeches. Aloud, mostly in measured talk.
In use
Even if you failed the first test, you still have two more attempts, so there is no reason to be discouraged.
This decline is within the forecast range, so there is no call to turn pessimistic about the long-term outlook as well.
Meeting a deadline is only to be expected. It does not call for praise.
It weighs a reaction, not a practical step
A practical "no need to" is 必要はない or ことはない.
Not said: 雨は
(The rain has stopped, so there is no need to take an umbrella.)
持っていく必要はない.
Close neighbours
After a label such as 犯罪, 違反 or 失礼, the same words are the negative of "counts as": "doesn't count as".
This act does not constitute a crime.
ことはないN3
Everyday, and said to a person: you tell them there's no need, usually to reassure them.
There's no need to be so surprised.
Everyday too: the matter is too small to call for the reaction. には当たらない doesn't call it small. It says the facts don't support the reaction.
If it's just a typo like that, it's nothing to worry about.
には及ばないN1
A formal reply to thanks, an offer or worry: there is no need.
There is no need to thank me. I only did what anyone would do.
Check yourself
1Which sentence sounds natural?
Choose an answer to see why.
2What does this mean?
その
Choose an answer to see why.
More detail
With no に, 当たらない is "misses the mark": その批判は当たらない, "that criticism is off the mark".
More sentences
Sales rose because advertising spending was increased substantially from last year, so the increase is no cause for surprise.
The rumor is based on an anonymous post and has no supporting evidence, so there is no reason to be alarmed.
The mistakenly sent document was recovered immediately and was not leaked outside the organization, so the person responsible does not deserve severe blame.
Processing time has merely been reduced by ten percent, so the result does not warrant unreserved praise as a breakthrough.