expression, i-adjective
aimless; purposeless; without a destination
Describes wandering, traveling, or living without a fixed goal, plan, or destination. Often used with verbs like 歩く, 旅, さまよう.
彼は当てのない旅に出た。
He set out on an aimless journey.
当てのないまま街を歩いた。
I walked around the city without any particular destination.
Phrase composed of 当て (aim, purpose) + の (possessive particle) + ない (negative adjective). The kanji 当て is used for 'aim' or 'goal', while 宛て can imply a destination or addressee. The exact historical derivation is uncertain, but the expression is a straightforward combination of these elements.