How to say "accidentally" in Japanese
Choosing the right word
- adverbCovers 'accidentally' in the sense of something happening by chance, with no suggestion of error. Use it when you happen to be or do something, as in running into someone by coincidence.
- adverbCovers 'accidentally' only marginally; its core senses are 'suddenly' and 'casually'. Use it when an action comes to you spontaneously or without premeditation, rather than as a mistake.
- 誤ってあやまってexpression, adverbThis is the word for 'accidentally' as 'by mistake or in error' — doing something wrong unintentionally, such as pressing the wrong button or deleting a file. It implies the action itself was unintended or incorrect.
- 偶然ぐうぜんadverbCovers 'accidentally' in the sense of 'by chance' or 'unexpectedly'. It describes outcomes that happen by coincidence rather than intention, without implying that a mistake was made.
Use 「誤って」 for doing something by mistake, 「ふと」 for a sudden unplanned action, and 「たまたま」 or 偶然 for things happening by chance, with 偶然 slightly more neutral and objective.
Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only
Japanese equivalents
See also
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