hap
hap — noun
1. an event or occurrence that happens by accident rather than through anyone's pla
an event or occurrence that happens by accident rather than through anyone's plan or intention
By a strange hap, Mizuki met her childhood friend at the market in Seoul.
collocation: by a strange hap
According to the old stories, accidental haps — not royal plans — shaped the kingdom's history.
contrast: accidental haps vs intentional plans
It was a fortunate hap that brought the lost letter to Eleni's hands.
Quan noted every accidental hap of his mountain journey — wrong turns, chance meetings, and sudden storms.
- event
neutral, everyday word for something that happens
- occurrence
more formal than 'event', similar register to 'hap'
- happening
common modern word; less dramatic than 'event'
用法筆記
This sense is now mainly found in literary or historical writing. The modern word 'happen' is derived from this root.
常見錯誤
2. good luck or a favourable outcome that comes without a person having to work for
good luck or a favourable outcome that comes without a person having to work for it — for example, being in the right place when an opportunity appears
Tariro thanked her hap when the landlady offered the flat at half the usual rent.
pattern: thanked (one's) hap
The fisherman's hap brought him the largest catch the village had seen in years.
Bao smiled at his good hap — the last ticket sold as he reached the counter.
The Chen family's hap changed when a neighbour helped reopen their shop after the fire.
- luck
the everyday modern word for good or bad fortune
- fortune
similar to 'hap' in register; slightly more common
- serendipity
describes lucky discoveries made by accident; more specific than 'hap'
- mishap
an unlucky accident; contains 'hap' as its root
用法筆記
Distinguish from noun sense 1 (CHANCE EVENT): sense 1 refers to any event that happens by chance, while this sense refers specifically to a lucky or favourable outcome. The word survives in the common compound 'mishap' (bad luck or an unlucky accident).
常見錯誤
3. a piece of cloth, blanket, or similar material used to cover a person or an obje
a piece of cloth, blanket, or similar material used to cover a person or an object for warmth, protection, or privacy
The old woman wrapped a woollen hap around her grandson before the walk to school.
pattern: wrap a hap around [person]
Sade pulled the hap over the bread basket to keep the loaves fresh until morning.
In the cottage, a warm hap covered the bed during the cold winter nights.
Mauricio used an old horse blanket as a hap when he slept under the stars.
用法筆記
This sense has a different origin from the first two noun senses (from Old English 'hæppe', meaning cloak). It is now extremely rare and only found in historical or dialectal writing.
hap — verb
- happresent simple I / you / we / they
- haps3rd person singular
- happing-ing form
- happedpast simple
1. to happen or come about as an event, especially without being planned or expecte
to happen or come about as an event, especially without being planned or expected
The wedding was to hap at the old chapel in the hills, as custom demanded.
pattern: was to hap (archaic future construction)
Whatever may hap, the village council swore to protect the ancient forest from logging.
pattern: whatever may hap
It so happed that Lucía arrived at the harbour as the ship raised its sails.
Defne asked the fortune-teller to tell her what would hap in the coming year.
文法句型
hap + (adverbial)
it so haps that + clause
用法筆記
This verb is now archaic. The preferred modern equivalent is 'happen'. In older texts you may find it used in constructions like 'it so happed that…' or 'whatever may hap'. The past tense is 'happed'.
常見錯誤
2. to put a garment, blanket, or other covering on someone; to dress or wrap up
to put a garment, blanket, or other covering on someone; to dress or wrap up
Meera happed the baby in a soft cotton blanket before the evening walk.
pattern: hap [person] in [covering]
The traveller was happed in a heavy cloak as he rode through the mountain pass.
passive: be happed in
Sana happed the statue in a white cloth to protect it from dust and rain.
Ritu happed the old chair in a faded curtain to hide its broken arm.
- uncover
to remove a covering from someone or something
文法句型
hap + object + in/with + covering
用法筆記
This verb is now extremely rare and only appears in historical or literary texts. The more common modern equivalents are 'wrap', 'cover', or 'dress'. The past tense is 'happed'.