言(い)い当(あ)てる

いいあてる
verb (ichidan, transitive)
to guess correctly; to hit upon
1. to guess correctly; to hit upon
To correctly identify or predict something, often surprising others with one's accuracy.
彼(かれ)は私(わたし)の考(かんが)えを見事(みごと)に言(い)い当(あ)てた。
He guessed my thoughts perfectly.
占(うらな)い師(し)が私(わたし)の過去(かこ)を言(い)い当(あ)てて驚(おどろ)いた。
I was surprised when the fortune teller correctly guessed my past.
犯人(はんにん)を言(い)い当(あ)てるのは難(むずか)しい。
It's difficult to correctly identify the culprit.

CONJUGATION:

  • 言(い)い当(あ)てる → 言(い)い当(あ)てない (negative)
  • 言(い)い当(あ)てる → 言(い)い当(あ)てて (te-form)
  • 言(い)い当(あ)てる → 言(い)い当(あ)てた (past)

FORMATION:
Compound verb: 言(い)う (to say) + 当(あ)てる (to hit the mark)

USAGE:

  • 正解(せいかい)を言(い)い当(あ)てる (to guess the correct answer)
  • 本心(ほんしん)を言(い)い当(あ)てる (to hit upon someone's true feelings)
  • 未来(みらい)を言(い)い当(あ)てる (to predict the future correctly)

NUANCE:
Implies impressive accuracy, not just a lucky guess. Often used when someone demonstrates insight or intuition.

general
Added 2026.1.18 18:27 · Revised 2026.1.19 21:17
06500/06859_iiateru