우연
uyeon[ujʌ̹n]
The English word 'coincidence' is translated into Korean as 우연 (uyeon). Wiktionary also lists 우연의 일치 (uyeonui ilchi).
Meaning: state of events appearing to be connected when they are not (noun)
Ways to say it
| Korean | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA |
|---|---|---|
| 우연 | uyeon | [ujʌ̹n] (SK Standard, Seoul, narrow) |
| 우연의 일치 | uyeonui ilchi |
The term refers to a state of events appearing to be connected when they are not.
What does it mean word for word?
The word 우연 refers to the concept of chance, an accident or a random occurrence. The phrase 우연의 일치 literally means 'a coincidence of chance'.
Which one should you use?
우연 is a more general term for 'chance', whereas 우연의 일치 specifically describes the phenomenon of two things happening at once by chance.
How does it change in a sentence?
Adding the suffix '-히' to '우연' turns the noun into an adverb meaning 'coincidentally' or 'by chance'.
How do you pronounce it?
uyeon
Did you know?
- While 우연의 일치 is used for coincidences, if you want to say a coincidence is 'too good to be true', Koreans often use the expression 기막힌 우연, where 기막힌 literally means 'breath-stopping'.
- If a coincidence feels like a destiny or fate rather than just a random accident, Koreans will often switch from 우연 to the word 인연, which refers to a predestined connection between people.
- The character 일 in 일치 means 'one' and 치 means 'reach'. Together they describe the moment two separate lines of events reach a single point.
Examples in context
- 이건 우연의 일치인 것 같아.I guess this is a coincidence.This sentence is useful for expressing a guess that something is a coincidence using 우연의 일치.Tatoeba #8396418 by Eunhee, translation #2330095 by CK
- 우리가 같은 버스에서 만났다니 정말 우연이야!It's such a coincidence that we met on the same bus!
- 너를 여기서 만날 줄은 몰랐어. 뜻밖의 만남이네!I didn't expect to meet you here. What a coincidence!
- 정말 우연이야!It's a real coincidence!
- 이건 정말 우연이에요.igeon jeongmal uyeoni-eyo.This is truly a coincidence.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “coincidence” translations and entries 우연, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries 우연, 일치, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
