chance
/tʃɑːns/ (bre, ipa) · /tʃæns/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈchan(t)s/ (ame, mw)
chance — 名詞
- chancesingular
- chancesplural
1. a time or situation in which you can do something that you want to do
機會
做某事的適當時機
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.
Leila 去年春天終於有機會去日本探望她的祖母。
chance + to-infinitive for opportunity
The coach gave each player a chance to prove their skills during the match.
教練給每位球員一個機會，在比賽中證明自己的能力。
collocation: give someone a chance
Rohan missed his chance to try out for the school basketball team.
Rohan 錯過了參加學校籃球隊選拔的機會。
If you ever get the chance to visit Taipei, you should go to the night markets.
如果你有機會去台北，一定要去逛夜市。
Aiko saw the internship as a perfect chance to learn about graphic design.
Aiko 把這份實習視為學習平面設計的絕佳機會。
- 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
可能性；機率
事情發生的可能性大小
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.
Priya 今年獲得獎學金的可能性很大。
chance + that-clause for probability
Diego's chances of winning the race improved after months of hard training.
經過幾個月的刻苦訓練，Diego 贏得比賽的機率提高了。
chance of + noun/-ing
What are the chances of finding a taxi near the stadium after the concert?
演唱會結束後，在體育館附近叫到計程車的機率有多大？
The doctor said there was a very good chance that she would make a full recovery.
醫生說她完全康復的可能性非常高。
Yusuf knew his chance of passing the exam was low, so he studied every evening.
Yusuf 知道自己通過考試的機會不大，所以他每晚都努力讀書。
- 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
風險
可能發生的負面結果
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.
Esteban 知道有可能會賠錢，但他還是做了這項投資。
chance of + negative outcome
Nadia took a chance and drove through the flooded road to get home faster.
Nadia 冒著風險，開車穿過淹水的道路，想要早點到家。
collocation: take a chance
The rescue team understood that the chance of an avalanche was high in that area.
救援隊明白那個地區發生雪崩的風險很高。
We cannot take the chance of arriving late for such an important interview.
這麼重要的面試，我們不能冒著遲到的風險。
Fatima knew there was a chance the bridge would collapse, but she crossed anyway.
Fatima 知道那座橋有可能會倒塌，但她還是走了過去。
- 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
運氣
無法預測的偶然因素
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.
Mei 和 Wei 完全是偶然在台北市中心的一家小咖啡店認識的。
collocation: by chance
It was pure chance that the ambulance arrived just when Noa needed it.
救護車剛好在 Noa 需要的時候抵達，純屬巧合。
collocation: pure chance
Ola left nothing to chance and planned every single detail of the wedding.
Ola 不靠運氣，把婚禮的每個細節都事先規劃好了。
By some strange chance, both sisters chose the same colour dress for the party.
說來奇怪，兩姊妹竟然為派對選了同一顏色的洋裝。
The two friends met again after twenty years through pure chance.
兩位朋友在二十年後，純屬偶然地再次相遇。
- 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 '
碰巧
用於禮貌性提問
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?
你碰巧知道最近的地鐵站在哪裡嗎？
polite question formula: by any chance
You would not by any chance have an extra pen I could borrow for the test?
你會不會剛好有多一支筆可以借我考試用？
Are you by any chance related to the woman who owns the bakery on Elm Street?
請問你跟 Elm 街上那家麵包店的老闆有親戚關係嗎？
Is this by any chance the blue jacket you left in the library last Tuesday?
這件藍色外套會不會是你上星期二忘在圖書館的那件？
- 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 — 動詞
- 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
冒險
冒著風險去做某事
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.
Amina 決定冒著暴風雨，在傾盆大雨中開車回家。
chance + direct object (the thing risked)
Quinn knew the plan was risky but was still willing to chance it.
Quinn 知道這個計劃有風險，但他還是願意賭一把。
collocation: chance it
We cannot chance being late for such an important job interview.
這麼重要的工作面試，我們不能冒著遲到的風險。
Rashida chanced a quick swim in the river despite the warning signs nearby.
儘管附近有警告標誌，Rashida 還是冒險在河裡游了一下。
- 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
碰巧；偶然
無意中發生或遇到
to happen or find something without intending or planning to
Wen chanced upon an old photograph of her grandmother while cleaning the attic.
Wen 在清理閣樓時，偶然發現了一張祖母的老照片。
chance upon + noun (find by accident)
Yara chanced to meet her former teacher while waiting for a flight in Singapore.
Yara 在新加坡候機時，碰巧遇見了以前的老師。
chance + to-infinitive (happen to)
On their walk through the woods, the children chanced across a small hidden lake.
孩子們在森林裡散步時，偶然發現了一個隱藏的小湖。
Sven chanced to be sitting next to the famous author on the train to Berlin.
Sven 碰巧坐在那位著名作家旁邊，一同搭火車前往柏林。
- 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 — 形容詞
- chancepositive
- chancercomparative
- chancestsuperlative
1. happening without being planned or intended, often bringing an unexpected result
偶然的
非計劃中發生的
happening without being planned or intended, often bringing an unexpected result
Theo and Beatriz had a chance encounter at a busy market in Marrakesh.
Theo 和 Beatriz 在馬拉喀什的一個熱鬧市集偶然相遇。
collocation: chance encounter
A chance discovery in the old library led to an important historical finding.
在舊圖書館裡的一項偶然發現，促成了一個重要的歷史研究成果。
collocation: chance discovery
Hiro's chance remark about the budget made everyone stop and reconsider.
Hiro 無意中對預算說的一句話，讓大家停下來重新思考。
The two old friends enjoyed a chance reunion at a conference in Seoul last year.
兩位老朋友去年在首爾的一場會議上意外重逢。
- 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'.