符合
fugō[ɸɯ̟ɡo̞ː]
The English word coincidence can be translated into Japanese as 符合 (fugō) or 偶然の一致.
Meaning: state of events appearing to be connected when they are not (noun)
Ways to say it
| Japanese | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA |
|---|---|---|
| 符合 | fugō | [ɸɯ̟ɡo̞ː] (narrow) |
| 偶然の一致 | gūzen no itchi |
Coincidence refers to a state of events appearing to be connected when they are not. In Japanese, the choice of word depends on whether you are describing a random accident or a formal correspondence of data.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase 偶然の一致 literally breaks down into 偶然 (accident/chance), the possessive particle の and 一致 (agreement/matching).
Which one should you use?
偶然の一致 is the standard way to describe a common coincidence, such as two people wearing the same shirt by chance. In contrast, 符合 is used for a formal or technical correspondence between two sets of data, facts or patterns.
How does it change in a sentence?
To say 'It is a coincidence' in a plain, declarative way, you can add the copula だ to the end of 偶然の一致 to form 偶然の一致だ.
How do you pronounce it?
fugō
Did you know?
- When two people coincidentally do the same thing at once, Japanese speakers might use the term 以心伝心, which refers to 'heart-to-heart' communication without words.
- In Japanese, the concept of 'synchronicity' or meaningful coincidence is often expressed using the loanword シンクロニシティ, specifically when referring to Jungian psychology.
- In Japanese literature and film, a 'coincidence' is often framed as 運命 or 'fate', suggesting that the event was predestined rather than random.
Examples in context
- 彼らの考えが合致しました。Their thoughts coincided.
- 彼と駅で偶然会いました。I ran into him at the station by chance.
- あの二人が同じ店で買い物をしているなんて、すごい偶然だね。It's amazing that those two are shopping at the same store. Such a coincidence!
Example conversation
Kenta and Himari meet unexpectedly at a bookstore.
- 健太 Kentaここで会うなんて、すごい符合だね。Koko de au nante, sugoi fugō da ne.Meeting here is such a coincidence.
- 陽葵 Himari本当に！私も今来たところだよ。Hontō ni! Watashi mo ima kita tokoro dayo.Really! I just got here too.
- 健太 Kenta同じ本を読もうとしていたのかな。Onaji hon o yomō to shite ita no kana.I wonder if we were trying to read the same book.
- 陽葵 Himariたぶんね。面白い符合だね。Tabun ne. Omoshiroi fugō da ne.Maybe. It's an interesting coincidence.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “coincidence” translations and entries 符合, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
