synonym Comparative
たまたま
VS
意外に
Differences Between "たまたま" and "意外に"
Option A
たまたま
Meaning
by chance, accidentally, unexpectedly
Reading
たまたま (tamatama)
Syllabus Level
N3
Practical Example
駅でたまたま昔の友達に会った。
I accidentally met an old friend at the station.
Option B
意外に
Meaning
surprisingly, unexpectedly
Reading
いがいに (igai ni)
Syllabus Level
N3
Practical Example
その映画は期待していなかったが、意外に面白かった。
I didn't expect much from that movie, but it was surprisingly interesting.
Which one to use?
Select the correct Japanese word for this context
Which word fits this context: "(by chance, accidentally, unexpectedly)"?
🎉 正解 / Correct!
使い分け解説:
- たまたま: Used when something happens coincidentally or unexpectedly, often implying a slight element of surprise. Similar to 偶然 (gūzen), but たまたま often emphasizes the unexpectedness more. (偶然や思いがけない出来事を表す際に使われます。偶然よりも予期せぬニュアンスを含むことが多いです。)
- 意外に: Used to express that something is different from what was expected. It often modifies a verb or an adjective. e.g., 「意外に難しい」(igai ni muzukashii - surprisingly difficult)
- たまたま: Used when something happens coincidentally or unexpectedly, often implying a slight element of surprise. Similar to 偶然 (gūzen), but たまたま often emphasizes the unexpectedness more. (偶然や思いがけない出来事を表す際に使われます。偶然よりも予期せぬニュアンスを含むことが多いです。)
- 意外に: Used to express that something is different from what was expected. It often modifies a verb or an adjective. e.g., 「意外に難しい」(igai ni muzukashii - surprisingly difficult)
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