How to say "casually" in Japanese
Choosing the right word
- adverbCovers 'casually' in the sense of doing something spontaneously and without premeditation, as when a thought suddenly crosses your mind or you incidentally notice something. It describes unplanned moments, not a relaxed manner.
- adverbThis is really about coincidence: something happening by chance, or you happening to be in a certain place. It is seldom the word you want for a casual manner of speaking or acting.
- adverbCovers 'casually' when you bring something up in passing without stating it outright, dropping a hint or sounding someone out. The remark feels casual because it is made indirectly rather than head-on.
Use 「ふと」 for actions or thoughts that occur spontaneously, 「たまたま」 for things that happen by pure chance, and 「それとなく」 for raising a topic indirectly, as if in passing.
Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only
Japanese equivalents
- ふとsuddenly
- たまたまby chance
- それとなくindirectly
- 飄然ひょうぜんcasually (come or go)
- 何か無しになんかなしにcasually
- 事も無げにこともなげにcasually
- よそながらwhile at a distance
- さりげにnonchalantly
- ぱらっとquickly (turning pages, opening a letter, etc.)
- ぽいcarelessly (throwing, tossing, etc.)
- ふらっとaimlessly
- 何の気なしになんのきなしにunintentionally
- 気軽にきがるにfreely
- ぴょこぴょこcasually
- ひょいひょいcasually
- ポンとcasually (throw)
- ぶらりaimlessly
- ひょいとby chance
- ざっくりcasually (wear)
See also
This browser can't play pronunciations (needs Safari 18.4 or later, or Chrome / Edge / Firefox).
