HSK 5
Correct
偶尔 vs 偶然
/ óuěr vs ǒurán /
Strokes
Formula
1
偶尔 + Verb
2
偶尔 + Verb + 次数（number of times )
3
很（非常） + 偶然 + Noun
4
Sth. + （不）是偶然的
Definition
Both 偶尔 (ǒu'ěr) and 偶然 (ǒurán) can mean "occasionally" or "by chance," but they are used in different contexts and have different grammatical roles. Here’s a detailed breakdown:
1. 偶尔 (ǒu'ěr) – "Occasionally" (Adverb, Frequency)
Usage:
Describes Low Frequency (Sometimes, But Rarely)
- Used to say something happens once in a while, but not often.
- Similar to "occasionally" or "once in a blue moon" in English.
- 我偶尔喝咖啡。 (Wǒ ǒu'ěr hē kāfēi.) – "I occasionally drink coffee."
- 他偶尔会迟到。 (Tā ǒu'ěr huì chídào.) – "He occasionally arrives late."
Can Be Used with "会 (huì)" or "也 (yě)"
- Often paired with 会 (will/sometimes) or 也 (also) to emphasize irregularity.
- 她偶尔也会生气。 (Tā ǒu'ěr yě huì shēngqì.) – "She occasionally gets angry too."
- 我们偶尔会去旅行。 (Wǒmen ǒu'ěr huì qù lǚxíng.) – "We occasionally go traveling."
Cannot Be Used as an Adjective
- Only an adverb (cannot modify nouns directly).
2. 偶然 (ǒurán) – "By Chance" or "Accidental" (Adjective/Adverb)
Usage:
Describes Something Unexpected or Coincidental
- Used for unplanned, random, or surprising events.
- Similar to "by chance," "accidentally," or "coincidentally" in English.
- 我们偶然在机场遇见了。 (Wǒmen ǒurán zài jīchǎng yùjiàn le.) – "We accidentally met at the airport."
- 这是一个偶然的事件。 (Zhè shì yīgè ǒurán de shìjiàn.) – "This is an accidental incident."
Can Be Used as an Adjective (Modifies Nouns)
- Can describe nouns (e.g., 偶然的机会 – "a chance opportunity").
- 这次相遇完全是偶然的。 (Zhè cì xiāngyù wánquán shì ǒurán de.) – "This meeting was completely by chance."
- 他发现了这个偶然的错误。 (Tā fāxiàn le zhège ǒurán de cuòwù.) – "He found this accidental mistake."
Can Be Used as an Adverb (Like 偶尔, But with Different Meaning)
- As an adverb, it means "unexpectedly" rather than "occasionally."
- 他偶然发现了这个秘密。 (Tā ǒurán fāxiàn le zhège mìmì.) – "He unexpectedly discovered this secret."
3. Key Differences Summary
| Feature | 偶尔 (ǒu'ěr) | 偶然 (ǒurán) |
|---|---|---|
| Meaning | "Occasionally" (low frequency) | "By chance" (unexpected) |
| Part of Speech | Only adverb | Adverb + adjective |
| Usage with Nouns | ❌ (不能修饰名词) | ✅ (e.g., 偶然的机会) |
| Example (Adverb) | "我偶尔喝酒。" | "我们偶然遇见了。" |
| Example (Adjective) | ❌ | "这是个偶然的错误。" |
Final Summary
- Use 偶尔 (ǒu'ěr) for "occasionally" (low frequency, adverb only).
- Use 偶然 (ǒurán) for "by chance" or "accidental" (adverb + adjective).
偶尔 HSK 4
偶然 HSK 5
Example
偶尔 used to express low frequency before a verb. Its antonym is 经常.
偶尔 + Verb
偶尔 + Verb + 次数（number of times )
1
Wǒ
我
píngshí
平时
zǒulù
走路
shàngbān
上班
,
ǒuěr
偶尔
jì
骑
zìxíngchē
自行车
。
I usually walk to work, but once in a while I go to work by bike.
2
Wǒmen
我们
ǒuěr
偶尔
jiàn
见
yīliǎng
一两
cì
次
miàn
面
。
We see each other now and then.
偶然 used to express unexpectedness before a verb. Its antonym is 必然.
3
Zuótiān
昨天
zài
在
jiēshang
街上
,
wǒ
我
ǒurán
偶然
pèngdào
碰到
le
了
yī
一
gè
个
lǎo
老
tóngxué
同学
。
I ran across an old classmate on the street yesterday.
4
A
A
:
zhège
这个
kāfēiguǎn
咖啡馆
zhēn
真
bùcuò
不错
,
nǐ
你
zěnme
怎么
fāxiàn
发现
de
的
?
B
B
:
nātiān
那天
zài
在
guàngjiē
逛街
de
的
shíhou
时候
,
wǒ
我
ǒurán
偶然
fāxiàn
发现
de
的
。
A: This coffee shop is nice, how did you find it? B : I found it by accident when I was shopping that day.
偶然 used as an Adjective - 1
偶然 can also be used as an Adjective and be modified by an Adverb. It can function as the attribute and the predicate of a sentence/clause, while 偶尔 cannot.
很（非常） + 偶然 + Noun
5
Yī
一
gè
个
hěn
很
ǒurán
偶然
de
的
jīhuì
机会
,
wǒ
我
rènshi
认识
le
了
tā
他
。
I knew him by chance.
6
Nā
那
zhǐ
只
shì
是
yī
一
gè
个
fēicháng
非常
ǒurán
偶然
de
的
xiànxiàng
现象
。
That is a accidental phenomenon.
偶然 used as an Adjective - 2
To function as a predicate directly.
7
Zhè
这
jiàn
件
shì
事
hěn
很
ǒurán
偶然
.
This thing is very accidental.
8
Méi
没
xiǎngdào
想到
zài
在
zhèrpèng
这儿
dàotā
碰到
他
,
tài
太
ǒurán
偶然
le
了
。
I didn't expect to meet him here, it's accidental.
偶然 used as an Adjective - 3
Sth. + 并不偶然, Note: 不偶然 is not used by itself.
Sth. + （不）是偶然的
9
Tāmen
他们
líhūn
离婚
bìng
并
bù
不
ǒurán
偶然
,
yīnwèi
因为
tāmen
他们
hěn
很
shǎo
少
gōutōng
沟通
。
They divorced not by accident, because they don't talk to each other often.
10
Tāmen
他们
líhūn
离婚
bú
不
shi
是
ǒurán
偶然
de
的
,
yīnwèi
因为
tāmen
他们
hěn
很
shǎo
少
gōutōng
沟通
。
They divorced not by accident, because they don't talk to each other often.
Mistake
Common Mistakes to Avoid
❌ Wrong: 这是一个偶尔的机会。 (Should use 偶然.)
✅ Correct: 这是一个偶然的机会。 (Zhè shì yīgè ǒurán de jīhuì.) – "This is a chance opportunity."
❌ Wrong: 我偶然吃辣。 (Sounds like "I accidentally eat spicy food.")
✅ Correct: 我偶尔吃辣。 (Wǒ ǒu'ěr chī là.) – "I occasionally eat spicy food."
Exercise
Practice Sentences
Choose 偶尔 or 偶然:
- 他____会忘记带钥匙。 (偶尔 – frequency)
- 我们____在超市碰到了。 (偶然 – by chance)
- 这只是一个____的错误。 (偶然 – adjective)
- 她____去健身房。 (偶尔 – frequency)
- 他常常在家看DVD，（ ）去电影院看电影。
- 没想到在这儿碰到他，太（ ）了。
- 爸爸平时太忙了，周末（ ）带孩子去玩儿。
- 他很少回家，一年（ ）回 一 两次。
- 昨天我（ ）在路上捡到一个钱包。
- 这次森林大火不是（ ）现象。
- 他们在家一般说广东话，（ ）说普通话。
- 他的失败不是（ ）的，因为他太骄傲了。
Translate:
- "I occasionally watch movies." → 我____看电影。 (偶尔)
- "They met by chance." → 他们____相遇了。 (偶然)