見当(けんとう)

けんとう
noun
estimate, guess, aim
See also: 検討(けんとう) (examination, study)
1. estimate, guess, rough idea
An approximate judgment or calculation about something.
見当(けんとう)がつかない。
I have no idea.
[Note: Common expression meaning 'cannot guess']
見当(けんとう)をつける。
To make a rough estimate.
見当(けんとう)違(ちが)い
Mistaken; off the mark.
犯人(はんにん)の居場所(いばしょ)について、警察(けいさつ)はまだ見当(けんとう)がついていないようだ。
It seems the police still have no idea about the criminal's whereabouts.
原因(げんいん)はだいたい見当(けんとう)がついているが、まだ確認(かくにん)していない。
I have a rough idea of the cause, but I haven't confirmed it yet.
2. aim, direction
The direction or target one is aiming at.
見当(けんとう)をつけて探(さが)す。
To search with a rough aim in mind.
大体(だいたい)の見当(けんとう)で方向(ほうこう)を決(き)めた。
I decided the direction based on a rough estimate.
地図(ちず)がなかったので、太陽(たいよう)の位置(いち)で見当(けんとう)をつけて歩(ある)いた。
Since I had no map, I walked using the position of the sun to aim my direction.
見当(けんとう)外(はず)れな方向(ほうこう)に進(すす)んでしまった。
I ended up heading in a completely wrong direction.
山(やま)の頂上(ちょうじょう)を目印(めじるし)にして見当(けんとう)をつけたが、霧(きり)が出(で)てきて見(み)えなくなった。
I used the mountaintop as a landmark to aim my direction, but fog came in and I couldn't see it anymore.

見当(けんとう) means a rough estimate, guess, or sense of direction. It is used when making approximate judgments rather than precise calculations.

COMMON EXPRESSIONS:

  • 見当(けんとう)がつく: to have an idea, to be able to guess
  • 見当(けんとう)がつかない: to have no idea, cannot guess at all
  • 見当(けんとう)をつける: to make a rough estimate, to get one's bearings
  • 見当(けんとう)違(ちが)い: a wrong guess, misunderstanding
  • 見当(けんとう)外(はず)れ: off the mark, way off

COMMON MISTAKE:
Do not confuse with 検討(けんとう) (examination, consideration, study), which means to carefully examine or review something. 見当(けんとう) is about rough guessing; 検討(けんとう) is about careful analysis.

NOTE:
見当(けんとう)がつかない is a very common expression in everyday speech, meaning 'I have no clue.'

Related Words

Homophone: 健闘(けんとう) (good fight)
core
Added 2026.1.11 17:47 · Revised 2026.5.23 0:14
02500/02795_kentou