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Formation: V-dictionary (verbs of reaction or evaluation: 驚く, 責める, 悲観する, 嘆く…) + には当たらない; は can be dropped: + に当たらない; polite: には当たりません

〜には当たらない is the speaker's judgment that an emotional reaction or evaluation is uncalled for in the circumstances, and the speaker often gives a reason first ('it's only natural, so...'). In this meaning it normally follows the dictionary form of a verb of reaction or evaluation such as 驚く, 責める, 非難する, 嘆く, 悲観する or 心配する, and it is formal, typical of essays, commentary and measured speech. Compare 〜ことはない, which is everyday and can give general advice about almost any action; 〜には及ばない, used for actions like coming, thanking or bothering (お礼には及びません); and 〜までもない, which says an action is unnecessary because the point is obvious. Do not confuse it with N + に（は）当たらない meaning 'does not count as / fall under' (違法行為には当たらない, 失礼には当たらない): the difference is the meaning and what comes before, a noun rather than a verb of reaction, not whether は is present.

Variants: に当たらない、には当たりません

Examples

• 毎日練習していたのだから、彼の優勝は驚くには当たらない。
  He practised every day, so his winning is nothing to be surprised about.
• 一度の失敗で悲観するには当たらない。
  There's no reason to despair over one failure.
• 経験の浅い新人のミスを、そこまで責めるには当たらない。
  There's no need to blame an inexperienced newcomer so harshly for a mistake.

In real texts 0 occurrence(s)

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