Translation and Meaning of: 偶々 - tamatama

The Japanese word 偶々[たまたま] is one of those terms that, although seeming simple, carries interesting nuances about the language and culture of Japan. If you have ever wondered about its meaning, how to use it in everyday life, or even its origin, this article will guide you through these details. Here, we will explore from the most accurate translation to the context in which it naturally appears in conversations. And if you are studying Japanese, you will discover practical tips to memorize it effortlessly.

Meaning and translation of 偶々 [たまたま]

In Portuguese, 偶々[たまたま] can be translated as "by chance" or "accidentally." It is used to describe situations that happen without planning, almost like a stroke of luck or coincidence. For example, if you run into a friend on the subway without having arranged it beforehand, that is the kind of situation in which the Japanese would use たまたま.

It is worth noting that, although it seems casual, the word has a neutral tone. It does not imply something necessarily good or bad, it merely reinforces the randomness of the event. This neutrality allows it to appear in various contexts, from informal conversations to more formal narratives.

Origin and writing in kanji

The kanji form, 偶々, is composed of the character 偶 (which alone can mean "chance" or "pair") repeated. However, the reading たまたま is more commonly used in everyday life than the kanji writing, which tends to be seen more in formal or literary texts. This duality between writing and pronunciation is typical of Japanese, where many words have different versions for spoken and written forms.

Interestingly, the origin of たまたま is linked to the verb 偶む (たまむ), an archaic term that is no longer used in modern Japanese. This verb carried the idea of something happening sporadically, which explains the current meaning of the word.

Cultural usage and frequency

In Japan, 偶々[たまたま] is a relatively common word, especially in everyday situations. It reflects a certain cultural acceptance of chance, something present in expressions like "shouganai" (it can't be helped). It is not uncommon to hear it in dramas or animes, often in scenes where characters reunite or discover something unexpected.

For Japanese learners, a useful tip is to associate たまたま with real-life situations. For example, if you forget an umbrella and, by chance, it doesn't rain, you can think: "たまたま助かった！" (By chance, I got lucky!). This type of association helps to reinforce vocabulary naturally.

Vocabulary

Expand your vocabulary with related words:

Synonyms and similar words

• たまたま (tamatama) - Accidentally; by chance.
• 偶然 (guuzen) - Coincidence; unexpected event.
• まれに (mare ni) - Rarely; occasionally, rarer than たまに.
• 稀に (mare ni) - Rarely; similar to まれに, but with a connotation of even less frequency.
• たまに (tamani) - From time to time; occasionally, more frequently than まれに or 稀に.

偶々

Romaji: tamatama
Kana: たまたま
Type: noun
L: jlpt-n3

Translation / Meaning: casually; unexpectedly; accidentally; by chance

Meaning in English: casually;unexpectedly;accidentally;by chance

Definition: By chance, by chance. By chance, by chance.

Example Sentences - (偶々) tamatama

See below some example sentences:

偶々会えたことに感謝しています。

Guuguu aeta koto ni kansha shiteimasu

I'm grateful to have found you by chance.

I am grateful to have found.

• 偶々 (guuguu) - by chance, accidentally
• 会えた (aeta) - found, found oneself
• こと (koto) - Thing, fact
• に (ni) - target particle
• 感謝 (kansha) - gratitude, thankfulness
• しています (shiteimasu) - is doing, is feeling