あてど

あ

て

ど

Meanings

1

aim; goal; objective

usually written using kana alone

Refers to a target or purpose one has in mind; often used in phrases like あてどなく (aimlessly) or あてどもなく (without a clear goal).

彼かれはあてどもなく街まちを歩あるいた。
He wandered aimlessly through the streets.
あてどのない旅たびに出でる。
Set off on a journey with no particular destination.

See all 5 example sentences ›

Expressions

あてどなくaimlessly; without a goal

Kanji

当hit, right, appropriate
所place, extent

Related words

目もく的てき
目的 is the standard word for 'purpose' or 'objective' and is much more common. あてど is more literary and often used in set phrases like あてどなく.
目もく標ひょう
目標 means 'target' or 'goal' in a concrete or abstract sense, while あてど has a more vague, directionless nuance.

Written forms

あてどUsage44%
Usually written in kana; the kanji forms 当て所 and 当てど are rare and may not be recognized by all readers.
当あて所どUsage33%
Rare kanji spelling; the reading あてど is not obvious from the kanji.
当あてどUsage22%
Mixed kanji-kana spelling; also rare.

Etymology

From 当て, “aim” or “expectation,” and 所, “place” or “destination,” with voicing of と to ど in the compound.