辺(あた)り

あたり

noun

vicinity, neighborhood, around

See also: 当(あ)たり (hit, success)

1. vicinity, neighborhood

The area near or surrounding a place.

この辺(あた)りは静(しず)かだ。

It's quiet around here.

この辺(あた)りに銀行(ぎんこう)はありますかか。

Is there a bank around here?

駅(えき)の辺(あた)りで待(ま)っているので、着(つ)いたら電話(でんわ)してください。

I'll be waiting near the station, so please call when you arrive.

2. around, approximately

Used to indicate an approximate location, time, or amount.

3時(じ)辺(あた)りに来(く)ると思(おも)う。

I think they'll come around 3 o'clock.

千(せん)円(えん)辺(あた)りで買(か)える。

You can buy it for around 1,000 yen.

来週(らいしゅう)辺(あた)りに一度(いちど)会(あ)って話(はなし)をしませんか。

Shall we meet up around next week and talk?

辺(あた)り has two main uses: indicating a physical vicinity (sense 1) and indicating approximation of time, amount, or location (sense 2). It is very common in everyday conversation.

Common patterns

この辺(あた)り: around here
～の辺(あた)り: near ~, around ~
3時(じ)辺(あた)り: around 3 o'clock
1000円(えん)辺(あた)り: around 1,000 yen
来週(らいしゅう)辺(あた)り: around next week

Writing

Often written in hiragana as あたり, especially in casual contexts. The kanji 辺(あた)り is standard; 周(あた)り (emphasizing surroundings) is an alternative.

Similar words

近(ちか)く: nearby (more specific about closeness)
付近(ふきん): vicinity (more formal)
ぐらい/くらい: about, approximately (for quantities and time, but not places)

Watch out

Do not confuse with 当(あ)たり (hit, success, winning) — same reading, different kanji.

Related Words

Synonym: 付近(ふきん) (vicinity (formal))

Compare: 近(ちか)く (nearby)

Compare: 近く(ちかく) (nearby, vicinity)

Compare: 周(まわ)り (surroundings, vicinity)

Compare: 近辺(きんぺん) (nearby area)

general

Added 2026.1.9 21:15 · Revised 2026.9.2 13:01

01500/01770_atari