あて

Japanese

Alternative spellings
当て 宛 宛て

Noun

あて • (ate) 

1. aim; object; end

   あてもなく歩(ある)く

   ate mo naku aruku

   to walk aimlessly

   鳥(とり)を当(あ)てに鉄砲(てっぽう)を撃(う)つ

   tori o ate ni teppō o utsu

   to shoot a gun at a bird

2. hope; expectation; something to rely or depend upon

   当(あ)てが外(はず)れる

   ate ga hazureru

   to be disappointed

   当(あ)てにできる人(ひと)

   ate ni dekiru hito

   a reliable person

3. pad; cushion; something added for protection
4. snack to have with drink

Suffix

あて • (-ate) 

1. per

   一(ひと)人(り)あて三(さん)冊(さつ)

   hitori ate sansatsu

   three books per person

2. 宛, 宛て: (addressed) to

   学(がっ)校(こう)あてに本(ほん)を送(おく)る

   gakkō ate ni hon o okuru

   to send a book to the school

   佐(さ)藤(とう)さんあての手紙(てがみ)

   Satō-san ate no tegami

   a letter addressed to Satō

Usage notes

This term is often spelled in hiragana.

See also

• 当(あ)てる (ateru)