に当たるcorresponds to; counts as
に当たる says what something corresponds to in another system, or what it counts as under a rule or a custom.
corresponds to
This post corresponds to a kachō (section manager) in Japan.
counts as
Being late for an appointment counts as rude.
How to form it
A は + noun + に当たる
It is a verb, so it goes straight in front of a noun: 部長に当たる人, the person equivalent to a department head. Often written にあたる.
- Before it
- What it matches: a rank or title, a relative (伯母, いとこ), a day or date, an amount. Or a label: 失礼, 違反 (a breach of the rules).
- Tone
- Exact and explaining, a little formal.
- Where you'll meet it
- Explanations of how ranks, school years and words line up between countries, and of who is who in a family; rules, etiquette guides, the news.
In use
My father's older sister is my aunt.
English just says "is".
This amount is the same as a month's rent for me.
My birthday falls on a Sunday this year.
Under company rules, this counts as a serious breach.
Two things to know
The careful way to say "counts as"
Everyday speech has になる.
That counts as rude.
Careful: an etiquette guide, a manager explaining.
In front of a noun: the equivalent
It names the thing that matches: the word, the post, the person.
English has no equivalent of "itadakimasu".
In this organization, the post equivalent to department head is called regional manager.
Close neighbours
にあたってN2
"On the occasion of", said before a big step or at a formal event. It looks like this verb's て-form and has nothing to do with matching.
On the occasion of the opening, allow me to say a few words.
で言うとN3
Names the system you are converting into. に当たる often finishes the sentence.
A first-year high school student in Japan corresponds to a tenth grader in the American school system.
Check yourself
1"In Japan, this counts as rude."
日本では、
Choose an answer to see why.
2Which one fits?
この
Choose an answer to see why.
More detail
The negative usually takes は: には当たらない, "doesn't count as".
Asking a question doesn't count as rude.
当たる is an ordinary verb too: to hit (ボールが窓に当たった), to win a prize (宝くじに当たった) and, in the news, to handle a job (救助に当たる, to carry out a rescue).
More sentences
In Japan's fiscal year, April 1 is the first day of the year.
The intermediate level of this course is the third of five levels.
These points are worth a thousand yen.
The winner receives prize money equal to three months' salary.