Synonym Nuance VS
How to say "Happen" in Japanese
Both words can translate to "happen", but which should you choose?
Japanese Option A
見かける
みかける (mikakeru)
N3 / CEFR Syllabus
VS
Japanese Option B
通りかかる
とおりかかる (toorikakaru)
B2 / CEFR Syllabus
Nuance Contrast & Translation Difference
When translating "happen" into Japanese, you must choose carefully between 見かける and 通りかかる.
In Japanese, 見かける (みかける (mikakeru)) is typically associated with "to happen to see; to catch sight of" (Syllabus Level: N3) and represents Implies seeing someone or something by chance, unexpectedly. 偶然に、またはたまたま何かや誰かを目にする様子を表す。.
On the other hand, 通りかかる (とおりかかる (toorikakaru)) maps to "to happen to pass by" (Syllabus Level: B2) and represents Essential structural term in CEFR B2 vocabulary syllabus.. A literal translation of "happen" can often sound unnatural to native Japanese speakers if mixed up!
Bilingual Context for "見かける"
昨日、駅前で有名人を見かけました。
I happened to see a celebrity in front of the station yesterday.
Bilingual Context for "通りかかる"
毎日、日本語を練習するために通りかかる。
Every day, I happen to pass by to practice Japanese.
Nuance Mastery Quiz
Which Japanese word perfectly fits this blank space?
Fill in the blank: "昨日、駅前で有名人を見かけました。" (Meaning: "I happened to see a celebrity in front of the station yesterday.")
🎉 Correct Answer!
Remember: "見かける" fits here because it means "to happen to see; to catch sight of" in the context of: "I happened to see a celebrity in front of the station yesterday.". "通りかかる" represents "to happen to pass by".