見当
Meanings
A rough calculation or prediction based on available information. Often used in phrases like 見当をつける (make a guess) or 見当がつく (have an idea).
I guessed his age to be around 30.
I have no idea what the cause is.
direction; bearings
Sense of orientation or location. Commonly used in 見当違い (off the mark, wrong direction) or 見当がつく (get one's bearings).
It was dark and I couldn't get my bearings.
His opinion is completely off the mark.
Technical term in printing for alignment marks used to ensure accurate color registration.
If the registration marks are misaligned during printing, the colors won't overlap correctly.
Suffix attached to numbers or quantities to indicate approximation. Similar to ～くらい or ～ほど.
The cost is around 50,000 yen.
It's about a 10-minute walk to the station.
Usage patterns
- 見当をつけるto make an educated guess
I made a guess as to who the culprit was.
- 見当が狂うto lose one's bearings; to be off the mark
I completely lost my sense of direction.
- 〈数〉見当about (a certain amount or number)
I bought an item worth about three thousand yen.