Translation guide
Expresses that something happens accidentally, without planning, or as a coincidence. Japanese uses adverbs, phrases, and verb forms to convey this nuance.
偶然彼に会った。
I met him by chance.
もしかして、鈴木さんですか？
Are you Ms. Suzuki, by any chance?
The speaker did something without planning or intending to do it.
The most common and neutral way to say 'by chance' or 'accidentally'. Used for both positive and negative events.
偶然、駅で彼に会った。
I met him at the station by chance.
Very common in casual speech. Emphasizes that something happened coincidentally, often with a nuance of 'it just so happened'.
たまたま通りかかっただけです。
I just happened to be passing by.
Used when an action occurs suddenly and without conscious thought, often for noticing or thinking something.
ふと窓の外を見ると、雪が降っていた。
When I happened to look out the window, it was snowing.
Doing something casually or without much thought, often leading to an unexpected result.
何気なく言った言葉が彼を傷つけた。
A remark I made casually hurt his feelings.
Two events occur at the same time or in a related way without being planned.
A slightly more emphatic form of 偶然, often used in storytelling or when highlighting a surprising coincidence.
偶然にも、同じホテルに泊まっていた。
Coincidentally, we were staying at the same hotel.
Also used for coincidences in casual contexts. Can be used interchangeably with 偶然 in many situations.
たまたま同じ電車に乗り合わせた。
We happened to be on the same train.
Means 'fortunately' or 'by good timing'. Used when a coincidence is beneficial.
Used in questions to ask if something is possible, often with a sense of hope or uncertainty.
The most common way to say 'by any chance' in questions. Casual and widely used.
もしかして、田中さんですか？
Are you Mr. Tanaka, by any chance?
Similar to もしかして, but can sound slightly more speculative or less confident.
A literary or old-fashioned way to say 'by any chance'. Often used in dramatic or humorous contexts.
Describes an action that occurs without prior intention, often using verb forms.
Indicates an action done unintentionally or with a sense of regret. The casual form is 〜ちゃう.
つい食べ過ぎてしまった。
I happened to overeat (without meaning to).
秘密を話しちゃった。
I ended up telling the secret.
Expresses that a situation has been decided or has turned out a certain way, often beyond one's control.
来月、大阪に転勤することになりました。
I will be transferred to Osaka next month (it's been decided).
Both mean 'by chance', but 偶然 is slightly more formal and can be used in writing. たまたま is more conversational and often implies a casual coincidence. In many daily situations, they are interchangeable.
偶然彼に会った。
I met him by chance.
たまたま彼に会った。
I met him by chance.
English 'by chance' can be a direct adverb or part of a question. Japanese uses different expressions for statements vs. questions. For questions, use もしかして or ひょっとして, not 偶然.
Fortunately, a taxi happened to pass by.
Did you get lost, by any chance?
Could you be the legendary hero, by any chance?