碰巧

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Character Breakdown

Usage of 碰巧

The adverb 碰巧 is used to express that something happens by chance or coincidentally. It often implies a positive or neutral surprise that an event occurred unexpectedly but conveniently.

Common Contexts

It frequently appears in everyday conversation when describing chance encounters, unexpected opportunities, or fortunate coincidences.

Typical Collocations

  • 碰巧遇见 (happen to meet): used when unexpectedly meeting someone.
  • 碰巧 (happen to bring): used when someone has something by chance.
  • 碰巧 (happen to book): used when successfully getting something by luck.

Nuance and Register

碰巧 is informal and neutral in tone, suitable for spoken and written Mandarin. It differs from 偶然 in that 碰巧 often carries a more personal or immediate sense of coincidence.

Common Confusion

Avoid confusing 碰巧 with 碰见; 碰见 means simply 'to meet' or 'to bump into,' while 碰巧 emphasizes the chance nature of the event.

Example Sentences

I happened to meet him on the street.

He happened to bring a camera, so he took many photos.

We happened to book the last ticket.