偶然(ぐうぜん)に

The adverbial form of 偶然(ぐうぜん) (coincidence). Can also be used without に as an adverb (偶然(ぐうぜん)会(あ)った is equally common). The に form emphasizes the manner in which something happened.

Common collocations

• 偶然(ぐうぜん)に出会(であ)う: to meet by chance
• 偶然(ぐうぜん)に見(み)つける: to find accidentally
• 偶然(ぐうぜん)に知(し)る: to learn by chance
• 偶然(ぐうぜん)の一致(いっち): coincidence, chance match

Similar words

• たまたま: by chance, happen to — more casual and spoken; often implies a lucky or unlucky coincidence
• 思(おも)いがけず: unexpectedly — emphasizes the surprise element
• 図(はか)らずも: unexpectedly, by a twist of fate — literary, often for fortunate or ironic coincidences

Common patterns

Both 偶然(ぐうぜん) and 偶然(ぐうぜん)に function as adverbs. The form without に is slightly more common in casual speech.