Usage note
偶然表示不是提前安排的、碰巧发生的。
ǒu rán biǎo shì bú shì tí qián ān pái de 、 pèng qiǎo fā shēng de。
偶然 means something happens by chance.
Context note
偶然常用于事件、发现和相遇。
ǒu rán cháng yòng yú shì jiàn 、 fā xiàn hé xiāng yù。
It is often used for events, discoveries, and meetings.
5 examples
我们偶然遇见了老师。
wǒ men ǒu rán yù jiàn le lǎo shī。
We happened to meet the teacher by chance.
这是一个偶然的发现。
zhè shì yí gè ǒu rán de fā xiàn。
This is an accidental discovery.
他偶然知道了这个消息。
tā ǒu rán zhī dào le zhè ge xiāo xī。
He learned this news by chance.
偶然的机会很珍贵。
ǒu rán de jī huì hěn zhēn guì。
Chances that come by accident are precious.
他们偶然走进了那家店。
tā men ǒu rán zǒu jìn le nà jiā diàn。
They happened to walk into that shop.
5 mini stories
放学路上，他们偶然遇见了朋友。
fàng xué lù shang， tā men ǒu rán yù jiàn le péng yǒu。
On the way home from school, they happened to meet a friend.
他偶然发现了一个好地方。
tā ǒu rán fā xiàn le yí gè hǎo dì fāng。
He accidentally discovered a good place.
这次成功有一点偶然。
zhè cì chéng gōng yǒu yì diǎn ǒu rán。
This success had a bit of chance in it.
偶然的相遇让大家很开心。
ǒu rán de xiāng yù ràng dà jiā hěn kāi xīn。
The chance meeting made everyone happy.
她偶然听到了一个好消息。
tā ǒu rán tīng dào le yí gè hǎo xiāo xī。
She happened to hear good news.
Mini dialogue
偶然相遇
A
我昨天在书店偶然遇到了王老师。
Wǒ zuótiān zài shūdiàn ǒurán yù dào le Wáng lǎoshī.
I accidentally met Teacher Wang at the bookstore yesterday.
B
真巧！我也偶然去过那里。
Zhēn qiǎo! Wǒ yě ǒurán qù guò nàlǐ.
What a coincidence! I also went there by chance.
偶然发现
A
你是怎么找到这个公园的？
Nǐ shì zěnme zhǎodào zhège gōngyuán de?
How did you find this park?
B
我偶然路过这里，觉得很漂亮。
Wǒ ǒurán lùguò zhèlǐ, juéde hěn piàoliang.
I passed by here by chance and thought it was beautiful.
Related words and contrasts
similar
突然
tū rán
sudden
Something happening unexpectedly.
opposite
故意
gù yì
on purpose
Done intentionally, not by accident.
related
意外
yì wài
unexpected
An accident or something not planned.