偶々(たまたま)

たまたま
adverb
by chance, unexpectedly
1. by chance, accidentally, unexpectedly
Something happening without intention or planning; coincidentally.
駅(えき)で偶々(たまたま)友達(ともだち)に会(あ)った。
I happened to meet a friend at the station.
偶々(たまたま)通(とお)りかかった店(みせ)で買(か)い物(もの)をした。
I shopped at a store I happened to pass by.
偶々(たまたま)見(み)たテレビ番組(ばんぐみ)が面白(おもしろ)かった。
A TV program I happened to watch was interesting.

たまたま describes something happening by chance or coincidence, without planning or intention.

WRITING:
Almost always written in hiragana. The kanji 偶々(たまたま) exists but is rarely used.

USAGE:

Very common in everyday conversation. Typically placed before the verb or event that happened by chance.

  • たまたま会(あ)った: happened to meet
  • たまたま見(み)た: happened to see
  • たまたま通(とお)りかかった: happened to pass by

SIMILAR WORDS:

  • たまたま: by chance (most natural in speech, emphasizes the randomness)
  • 偶然(ぐうぜん): coincidentally (slightly more formal, can be used as a noun: 偶然(ぐうぜん)の一致(いっち) = coincidence)
  • 思(おも)いがけず: unexpectedly (emphasizes the surprise element)

NUANCE:
たまたま carries no emotional weight — it simply states that something was unplanned. It can be used for both positive and negative coincidences.

Related Words

Synonym: 偶然(ぐうぜん) (by chance)
general
Added 2026.1.12 23:28 · Revised 2026.4.5 20:45
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