Level 5

우연

uyeon

Chance, haphazard

TOPIK 5

Meaning and Usage

"우연" refers to something happening by chance or unexpectedly without prior planning. It often describes coincidences or accidental events in daily life.

Common Contexts

You will frequently hear "우연히" (adverb form) meaning "by chance" or "accidentally," used when something happens without intention, like meeting someone unexpectedly.

Collocations and Patterns

  • 우연히 만나다: to meet by chance
  • 우연한 사건: a chance incident
  • 우연의 일치: coincidence

Nuances

Using "우연" implies a lack of deliberate action or planning. It is neutral in tone and common in both spoken and written Korean.

Learner Tips

Do not confuse "우연" with "운명" (fate/destiny). "우연" emphasizes randomness, while "운명" implies something destined or meant to be.

Example Sentences

우연히 길에서 친구를 만났어요.

Uyeonhi gireseo chingureul mannasseoyo.

I happened to meet a friend on the street.

그 일은 전혀 계획하지 않은 우연한 사건이었다.

Geu ireun jeonhyeo gyehoegaji aneun uyeonhan sageon-ieotda.

That event was a completely unplanned chance incident.

우연의 일치라고 생각했지만, 사실은 계획된 일이었어요.

Uyeon-ui ilchi-rago saenggakhaetjiman, sasireun gyehoegdoen irieosseoyo.

I thought it was a coincidence, but actually it was a planned event.