たまに・偶に・適にtamani[0]heiban (flat)

1. adverboccasionally; once in a while; now and then
   たまには会あいに来きて下ください。↗

   Come and see me once in a while.

• Synonym滅多にめったにNeutralNeutral. Used with a negative to mean 'hardly ever', as in 「滅多に来ない」; the frequency is lower than 「たまに」, and it needs the negation to work.
• SynonymたまたまNeutralNeutral. Means 'by chance, as it happened', as in 「たまたま会った」; it highlights coincidence rather than how often something occurs.
• SynonymたまさかWrittenWritten/formal prose with an old-fashioned flavor. Means 'by chance' or 'rarely', as in 「たまさかの休み」; literary, not used in everyday speech.
• Synonym時たまときたまNeutralNeutral. Means 'once in a while', as in 「時たま会う」; nearly interchangeable with 「たまに」 but slightly more written in tone.
• RelatedまれWrittenWritten/formal prose. Describes something scarce or uncommon, as in 「稀な例」; it stresses that a thing is rarely seen, not that something happens occasionally.
• Related珍しくNeutralNeutral. Means 'unusually, contrary to one's habits', as in 「珍しく早起きした」; it stresses that something differs from what is normal for the person.
• Antonym常につねにNeutralNeutral antonym. Means 'always, constantly', as in 「常に注意する」 — the direct opposite of 「たまに」.
• AntonymしょっちゅうCasualColloquial antonym. Means 'all the time', as in 「しょっちゅう遅れる」; a casual way to say something happens constantly.
• Antonym頻繁にWrittenWritten/formal prose antonym. Means 'frequently, often', as in 「頻繁に連絡する」; a formal way to express the opposite of 「たまに」.

For 'occasionally', 「たまに」 is the default; 「時たま」 is a slightly more written alternative. Use 「滅多に〜ない」 for 'hardly ever', 「たまたま」 for 'by chance', and 「珍しく」 for 'unusually'. For the opposite, 「常に」 means 'always' and 「しょっちゅう」 is the colloquial 'all the time'.

Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only

1. ときどき。まれに。