chance
/tʃɑːns/ (bre, ipa) · /tʃæns/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈchan(t)s/ (ame, mw)
chance — noun
- chancesingular
- chancesplural
1. a time or situation in which you can do something that you want to do
a time or situation in which you can do something that you want to do
Leila finally got a chance to visit her grandmother in Japan last spring.
chance + to-infinitive for opportunity
The coach gave each player a chance to prove their skills during the match.
collocation: give someone a chance
Rohan missed his chance to try out for the school basketball team.
If you ever get the chance to visit Taipei, you should go to the night markets.
Aiko saw the internship as a perfect chance to learn about graphic design.
- opportunity
more neutral and planned; less dependent on luck or timing
- occasion
more formal; emphasizes the specific time or event
文法句型
chance + to-infinitive
常見錯誤
2. the degree to which something is likely to happen or be true
the degree to which something is likely to happen or be true
There is a good chance that Priya will receive the scholarship this year.
chance + that-clause for probability
Diego's chances of winning the race improved after months of hard training.
chance of + noun/-ing
What are the chances of finding a taxi near the stadium after the concert?
The doctor said there was a very good chance that she would make a full recovery.
Yusuf knew his chance of passing the exam was low, so he studied every evening.
- probability
more technical or mathematical; used in statistics
- likelihood
slightly more formal; used in academic or professional contexts
- odds
often used in betting or competition contexts
文法句型
chance + that-clause
chance + of + noun/-ing
用法筆記
When used with a that-clause ('the chance that…'), the focus is on whether something will happen. When used with 'of' ('the chance of something'), the focus is on the likelihood of a situation.
常見錯誤
3. the possibility that something unwanted or dangerous will happen, especially whe
the possibility that something unwanted or dangerous will happen, especially when you decide to act despite knowing this
Esteban knew there was a chance of losing money, but he still made the investment.
chance of + negative outcome
Nadia took a chance and drove through the flooded road to get home faster.
collocation: take a chance
The rescue team understood that the chance of an avalanche was high in that area.
We cannot take the chance of arriving late for such an important interview.
Fatima knew there was a chance the bridge would collapse, but she crossed anyway.
- safety
freedom from risk or danger
文法句型
chance of + noun/-ing
take a chance
用法筆記
This sense always carries a negative expectation. 'Take a chance' usually means accepting the risk of a bad outcome, though the phrase also appears in positive gambles ('take a chance on love').
4. the way that events happen without any plan or control, so that their outcome de
the way that events happen without any plan or control, so that their outcome depends on unpredictable factors rather than on someone's design
Mei and Wei met purely by chance at a small coffee shop in central Taipei.
collocation: by chance
It was pure chance that the ambulance arrived just when Noa needed it.
collocation: pure chance
Ola left nothing to chance and planned every single detail of the wedding.
By some strange chance, both sisters chose the same colour dress for the party.
The two friends met again after twenty years through pure chance.
- luck
more personal; can be good or bad depending on context
- fate
suggests a predetermined outcome, not random
- coincidence
an event that happens by chance, especially two things at the same time
文法句型
by chance
pure chance
leave something to chance
用法筆記
'By chance' is the most common fixed phrase. 'Pure chance' and 'sheer chance' emphasize that no planning was involved. Unlike the opportunity sense (sense 1), this sense is uncountable and cannot take an article.
常見錯誤
5. used in polite questions or requests, often when you think the answer might be '
used in polite questions or requests, often when you think the answer might be 'no' or when you do not want to sound too direct
Do you by any chance know where the nearest subway station is?
polite question formula: by any chance
You would not by any chance have an extra pen I could borrow for the test?
Are you by any chance related to the woman who owns the bakery on Elm Street?
Is this by any chance the blue jacket you left in the library last Tuesday?
- perhaps
similar level of politeness, but placed differently in the sentence
文法句型
by any chance (in polite questions)
用法筆記
'By any chance' almost always appears in questions. It makes the question sound less demanding and more polite, similar to 'perhaps' or 'maybe' in English.
常見錯誤
chance — verb
- chancepresent simple I / you / we / they
- chances3rd person singular
- chancing-ing form
- chancedpast simple
1. to do something even though you know that something bad might happen as a result
to do something even though you know that something bad might happen as a result
Amina decided to chance the storm and drive home through the heavy rain.
chance + direct object (the thing risked)
Quinn knew the plan was risky but was still willing to chance it.
collocation: chance it
We cannot chance being late for such an important job interview.
Rashida chanced a quick swim in the river despite the warning signs nearby.
- risk
more common as a verb; 'chance' is slightly more informal
- avoid
to stay away from a risk deliberately
文法句型
chance + noun
chance + -ing
用法筆記
This verb is less common than the noun senses. The fixed phrase 'chance it' (meaning 'take the risk') is the most frequent use in everyday conversation.
2. to happen or find something without intending or planning to
to happen or find something without intending or planning to
Wen chanced upon an old photograph of her grandmother while cleaning the attic.
chance upon + noun (find by accident)
Yara chanced to meet her former teacher while waiting for a flight in Singapore.
chance + to-infinitive (happen to)
On their walk through the woods, the children chanced across a small hidden lake.
Sven chanced to be sitting next to the famous author on the train to Berlin.
- happen to
more common in everyday speech; less formal
- come across
common for finding things by accident
- stumble upon
similar meaning, slightly more dramatic
文法句型
chance + to-infinitive
chance upon/on/across + noun
用法筆記
This verb is fairly formal and more common in written English than in speech. In conversation, 'happen to' or 'come across' are more natural alternatives. 'Chance upon' and 'chance across' mean 'find by accident'.
chance — adjective
- chancepositive
- chancercomparative
- chancestsuperlative
1. happening without being planned or intended, often bringing an unexpected result
happening without being planned or intended, often bringing an unexpected result
Theo and Beatriz had a chance encounter at a busy market in Marrakesh.
collocation: chance encounter
A chance discovery in the old library led to an important historical finding.
collocation: chance discovery
Hiro's chance remark about the budget made everyone stop and reconsider.
The two old friends enjoyed a chance reunion at a conference in Seoul last year.
- accidental
stronger emphasis on the lack of intention; slightly more formal
- unexpected
focuses on surprise rather than lack of planning
- random
informal; suggests no pattern or reason at all
- planned
deliberately arranged or intended
- intentional
done on purpose
用法筆記
This adjective is always used before a noun (attributive position). You cannot say 'the meeting was chance' — instead say 'the meeting was by chance' (adverb) or 'the meeting was a chance encounter/adjective + noun'.