巡(めぐ)り合(あ)わせ

Forms

巡(めぐ)り (going around, from 巡(めぐ)る) + 合(あ)わせ (meeting, combining)
Literally: "coming around to meet"

Usage

巡(めぐ)り合(あ)わせ often implies that events were fated to happen, whether good or bad. It suggests that the circumstances were beyond one's control.

Common patterns

• 運命(うんめい)の巡(めぐ)り合(あ)わせ - twist of fate, destiny
• 不思議(ふしぎ)な巡(めぐ)り合(あ)わせ - strange coincidence
• 悪(わる)い巡(めぐ)り合(あ)わせ - bad luck, unfortunate circumstances

Related words

• 縁(えん) - fate, connection, karma
• 因縁(いんねん) - fate, karma, destiny
• 宿命(しゅくめい) - destiny, fate (predetermined)
• 偶然(ぐうぜん) - coincidence (more neutral, less fated)

Register

Neutral. Common in both casual and literary contexts.