心当(こころあ)たり

こころあたり
noun
having an idea; clue; something that comes to mind
cognition
1. having an idea; clue; something that comes to mind
A vague idea or recollection about something, often used when someone might know the cause, location, or person involved. Frequently used with ある (to have) or ない (to not have).
心当(こころあ)たりはありますか。
Do you have any idea?
犯人(はんにん)に心当(こころあ)たりがない。
I have no idea who the culprit might be.
財布(さいふ)をなくした場所(ばしょ)に心当(こころあ)たりがあるなら、すぐに探(さが)しに行(い)こう。
If you have any idea where you lost your wallet, let's go look for it right away.

Usage

Almost always appears in the patterns 心当(こころあ)たりがある (to have an idea/clue) or 心当(こころあ)たりがない (to have no idea). Commonly used in conversations about mysteries, lost items, or unknown causes.

Common patterns

  • 心当(こころあ)たりがある (to have an idea about something)
  • 心当(こころあ)たりがない (to have no idea)
  • 心当(こころあ)たりはありませんか (do you have any idea? — polite)
  • ～に心当(こころあ)たりがある (to have an idea about ~)

Related Words

Compare: 思(おも)い当(あ)たる (to come to mind)
general
Added 2026.3.7 19:05 · Revised 2026.9.2 13:01
15500/15534_kokoroatari