巡(めぐ)り合(あ)わせ

めぐりあわせ
noun
chance; fate; destiny; twist of fate
1. chance; fate; destiny; twist of fate
The way things happen to come together, often attributed to fate or luck rather than planning. Can refer to fortunate or unfortunate coincidences.
運命(うんめい)の巡(めぐ)り合(あ)わせで彼(かれ)と出会(であ)った。
I met him through a twist of fate.
不思議(ふしぎ)な巡(めぐ)り合(あ)わせだね。
What a strange coincidence, isn't it?
これも何(なに)かの巡(めぐ)り合(あ)わせかもしれない。
This might also be some kind of fate.

WORD FORMATION:
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.

Related Words

Related: 宿命(しゅくめい) (destiny)
general
Added 2026.1.19 16:23 · Revised 2026.1.24 23:24
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