How to use 当たる

I don't think I want to end up being her boyfriend.....

This is a verb that boggles our mind. Just how do you use 当たる?? 

There are an infinite number of ways one can use 当たる. Okay, maybe it's not infinity but there's quite a lot of ways. 

Let's look at some which are used quite often, together with examples. 

1.  As the picture above describes, some sort of physical contact by people and/or things. 

彼のパンチが顔に当たった。　

His punch landed(hit) on my face. 

This can also be used with hitting a ball, target, and so on. 

暖かい日差しに当たる。

Being under the warm sun. ( Get shone upon by the warm sunlight) 

The sunlight might not really be physical, but when you think of photons hitting us it's understandable. 

This way of expression can also be used for other natural elements. 　風に当たる(getting hit by the wind/feeling the wind) being the most common. 

2. When facing some type of force or debacle

強敵に当たる。　　

Being put(faced) with a strong opponent. 

不利な状況に当たる。

Get involved in a problematic situation 

3.  When referring to a certain role or position 

彼女がオリンピック選手山田の母に当たります。

She is the mother of Yamada, the Olympic athlete. 

彼らが当日の警備員に当たります。

They are the security staff for the appointed day. 

4. When things turn out the way you wanted it, or in a very positive ending

宝くじに当たる！！

I win the lottery!!

Now, you will see this sentence like crazy when you visit the cities in Japan, heck not just the cities but even in the countrysides. 宝くじ is pretty popular in Japan. 

天気予報が当たる。

The weather forecast turns out right(to be true).

This can also be used when you plan or talk about something beforehand ( like trying out your luck at un unknown beach for scuba diving ) . You could say 当たった！！　As is " We're in luck " or " We've hit the spot " . 

5. When given a duty 

彼は演説の担当に当たった。

He was picked(addressed) as a speaker. 

トイレ掃除の当番はわたしに当てられた。

I was given the task of cleaning the washrooms. 

There's another really used expression which is 罰に当たる(ばちにあたる)　Being punished(in the sense that your actions deemed as wrong/bad comes back to bite you )