JLPT N1 grammar

〜には当たらないmeaning and usage

Meaning

There's no need to A; There's not enough so that A is necessary; it is not worth A

How to form it

  • verb (dictionary form)には当たらない
  • nounには当たらない

How it is used

'There is no reason to A': says a reaction is out of proportion, usually with 「驚く」, 「責める」, 「心配する」 or 「非難する」. Fairly formal. 「〜には及ばない」 is more about not needing to make the effort.

Examples

  1. 彼の受賞なんて驚くには当たらない。当然の結果だ。

    It's not really a surprise that he won the prize. It was a given.

  2. 子どもが親に反抗するのは成長の証で、嘆くには当たらない。

    A child rebelling against their parents is a sign of growing up; it's nothing to despair over.

  3. 新人が敬語を間違えたからといって、責めるには当たらない。

    A newcomer getting honorifics wrong is no reason to criticise them.