What atarimae means
Atarimae describes something that is obvious, natural or simply how things are. It works as a noun and as a na-adjective: atarimae da, it is obvious; atarimae no koto, an obvious thing; atarimae no yō ni, as if it were only natural. You will also see it written in hiragana, あたりまえ, especially in casual writing.
The word covers several English ideas. It can mean of course in a reply, natural or expected in a description, and normal in the sense of what everyone does. The shared feeling is that no explanation is needed.
| Japanese | Romaji | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 当たり前 | atarimae | Obvious, natural, a matter of course |
| 当たり前だ | atarimae da | It's obvious (plain) |
| 当たり前です | atarimae desu | It's natural (polite, but still direct) |
| 当たり前のこと | atarimae no koto | Something obvious; a given |
| 当たり前じゃない | atarimae ja nai | It's not a given; not to be taken for granted |
| 当たり前に | atarimae ni | As a matter of course, naturally |
Atarimae as of course
In casual conversation, atarimae is a common reply meaning of course or obviously. Between friends it often sounds warm and reassuring, especially when the other person is worried or asking permission they do not need.
The feeling depends heavily on intonation. A soft, rising atarimae jan with a smile means of course, silly. A flat, falling atarimae daro can sound like are you stupid? If you are unsure of your tone, mochiron is a safer of course.
| Japanese | Romaji | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 手伝ってくれる？ 当たり前だよ。 | Tetsudatte kureru? Atarimae da yo. | Will you help me? Of course I will. |
| 来てくれるの？ 当たり前じゃん。 | Kite kureru no? Atarimae jan. | You'll come? Of course, obviously. |
| 当たり前でしょ。 | Atarimae desho. | Well, obviously. (casual, can sound sharp) |
| 当たり前だろ。 | Atarimae daro. | Obviously. (rough, masculine-sounding) |
| もちろんです。 | Mochiron desu. | Of course. (polite, safe) |
Atarimae no koto: things we take for granted
Atarimae no koto, literally an obvious thing, is used for the basics that everyone assumes. It appears in advice, in rules and in reflective talk about gratitude. Atarimae no koto o atarimae ni suru, doing the obvious things properly, is a familiar motto in workplaces and sports teams.
The negative, atarimae ja nai, is very common in a positive, thankful sense. After an illness or a disaster, people often say that everyday life is not something to take for granted. It is also a warm way to thank someone for help they give every day.
| Japanese | Romaji | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 当たり前のことを当たり前にやる。 | Atarimae no koto o atarimae ni yaru. | Do the basic things properly, every time. |
| 毎日ご飯が食べられるのは当たり前じゃない。 | Mainichi gohan ga taberareru no wa atarimae ja nai. | Being able to eat every day is not a given. |
| いつも助けてもらうのを当たり前だと思っていました。 | Itsumo tasukete morau no o atarimae da to omotte imashita. | I had taken your help for granted. |
| 当たり前の日常 | atarimae no nichijō | Ordinary everyday life we take for granted |
| 当たり前だと思わないでね。 | Atarimae da to omowanaide ne. | Don't take it for granted, okay? |
Describing what is natural or expected
Atarimae also describes what is natural given the situation: of course you are tired after a night shift, of course prices differ in Tokyo. In this use it often follows a clause with no wa or nante, and it can sound understanding rather than blunt.
Combined with a reason, it sounds sympathetic: tsukarete iru no wa atarimae da yo, it is natural that you are tired. Here it reassures the listener that their reaction is normal.
| Japanese | Romaji | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 疲れるのは当たり前だよ。 | Tsukareru no wa atarimae da yo. | It's natural to be tired. |
| 初めてなら緊張するのは当たり前です。 | Hajimete nara kinchō suru no wa atarimae desu. | If it's your first time, of course you'll be nervous. |
| お礼を言うのは当たり前のことです。 | Orei o iu no wa atarimae no koto desu. | Saying thank you is only natural. |
| 日本では当たり前のマナー | Nihon de wa atarimae no manā | Manners that are taken for granted in Japan |
Atarimae versus tōzen
Tōzen, 当然, is the closest synonym. It means naturally or as a matter of course, but it has a more logical, reasoned feel, and it is common in formal speech, news and writing. It can also be used as an adverb: tōzen desu ga, naturally, but also tōzen no kekka, the natural result.
In a reply, tōzen desu! sounds confident and a little bold, like absolutely. Atarimae sounds more everyday and emotional. For the idea of taking something for granted, atarimae is by far the more common choice.
| Word | Feel | Typical example |
|---|---|---|
| 当たり前 atarimae | Everyday, emotional | Atarimae ja nai, it's not a given |
| 当然 tōzen | Logical, a little formal | Tōzen no kekka, the expected result |
| もちろん mochiron | Friendly, safe | Mochiron desu, of course |
| 普通 futsū | Ordinary, average | Futsū no hi, a normal day |
| 常識 jōshiki | Common sense | Jōshiki desu yo, that's common sense |
Jōshiki deserves a warning. Saying jōshiki desho, that's common sense, can sound harsher than atarimae because it suggests the listener lacks basic social knowledge.
Where atarimae comes from
The origin of the word is not fully settled. One commonly cited explanation is that the word began as a native reading given to 当然, tōzen, which was then written phonetically as 当前 and later 当たり前. Another explanation connects it to the fair share, atari, that someone rightly receives, so that atarimae meant what one naturally deserves.
You do not need the history to use the word, but it helps explain why atarimae can mean both obvious and what is only fair. Kare ga okoru no mo atarimae da, it is only natural that he is angry, carries a little of that sense of deserving.
| Japanese | Romaji | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 怒るのも当たり前だ。 | Okoru no mo atarimae da. | It's only natural to be angry. |
| 謝るのが当たり前でしょう。 | Ayamaru no ga atarimae deshō. | Surely the natural thing is to apologise. |
| 当たり前の権利 | atarimae no kenri | A basic, natural right |
Tone cautions and common mistakes
Because atarimae suggests something needs no explanation, using it about another person's question can imply they are ignorant. A new colleague who asks whether meetings start on time and hears atarimae desu may feel scolded. A softer answer is hai, daitai jikandōri ni hajimarimasu, yes, they usually start on time.
Another mistake is using atarimae with superiors or customers as a reply. Even atarimae desu with desu is direct. In polite situations, mochiron desu, hai, zehi or yorokonde sound much better. Finally, be careful with atarimae in cross-cultural comments: saying something is atarimae in your country can sound like you are judging Japan, or the reverse.
| Japanese | Romaji | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 私の国ではそれが普通です。 | Watashi no kuni de wa sore ga futsū desu. | In my country that's the norm. (neutral) |
| 喜んで。 | Yorokonde. | I'd be glad to. (polite yes) |
- With friends, a soft atarimae da yo is a warm of course
- With seniors and customers, prefer mochiron desu or yorokonde
- Avoid atarimae desho and jōshiki desho unless you mean to criticise
- Use atarimae ja nai to thank people for everyday help
- When comparing countries, say futsū or yoku aru to sound neutral