Translation and Characters of the Japanese Word "Atari"

Japan flag
Ramberg/Getty Images

You probably recognize the Japanese word atari, particularly if you grew up playing on the popular gaming system of the same name. But the word actually means "neighborhood", or "in the same vicinity as", or "the surroundings". Pronounced just as it is spelled, the context of the word helps to define its specific meaning.

Japanese Characters

あたり

Example

Atari niwa fukai kiri ga tachikometeita.
あたりには深い霧が立ちこめていた。

Translation: A dense fog lay all around.

Format
mla apa chicago
Your Citation
Abe, Namiko. "Translation and Characters of the Japanese Word "Atari"." ThoughtCo, Aug. 28, 2020, thoughtco.com/atari-meaning-and-characters-2028686. Abe, Namiko. (2020, August 28). Translation and Characters of the Japanese Word "Atari". Retrieved from https://www.thoughtco.com/atari-meaning-and-characters-2028686 Abe, Namiko. "Translation and Characters of the Japanese Word "Atari"." ThoughtCo. https://www.thoughtco.com/atari-meaning-and-characters-2028686 (accessed March 28, 2024).