Meaning and Usage
"わざと" means "on purpose" or "intentionally." It is used when someone does something deliberately, often implying awareness and intention behind the action.
Common Contexts
You will often hear "わざと" in situations where someone is accused of doing something intentionally, such as making a mistake or causing trouble. It can be used in both casual and formal conversations.
Collocations and Patterns
- わざと遅刻する: to be late on purpose
- わざとミスをする: to make a mistake intentionally
- わざとじゃない: not on purpose (denying intention)
Nuances
Using "わざと" implies that the action was not accidental. When denying intention, people often say "わざとじゃない" to clarify it was unintentional.
Common Mistake
Learners sometimes confuse "わざと" with "たまたま" (by chance). Remember, "わざと" always implies intention, while "たまたま" means something happened accidentally or coincidentally.