1. to take place or occur
發生
The accident happened yesterday.
那場意外是昨天發生的。
What happened to your car?
你的車發生什麼事了？
These things happen sometimes.
這種事有時候就是會發生。
Happen Meaning（定義、用法、例句與發音）
happen
verb
快速理解
What does "Happen" mean?What are 2-3 core uses of "Happen"?
指事件發生或偶然發生。
- 1
發生
EN: Something happens.
翻譯: 某事發生。
- 2
偶然發生
EN: It happens by chance.
翻譯: 偶然發生。
- 3
碰巧做某事
EN: I happen to know the answer.
翻譯: 我碰巧知道答案。
- 4
發生在某人身上
EN: What happened to you?
翻譯: 你發生了什麼事？
小提醒：注意 'happen to' 有兩種常見用法：一是表示『碰巧』（I happen to be there），二是詢問『某人發生了什麼事』（What happened to him?）。
發音（How to Pronounce "Happen" in English）
How to pronounce "Happen" in English?"Happen" US vs UK pronunciation
點擊下方的 US / UK 按鈕可播放發音。
Real-life Examples of "Happen" from YouTube Videos
Steven Schwaitzberg: A universal translator for surgeons
TED
“But if you happen to be sitting in Beijing at the same time, by using technology in a constructive fashion, you could get it in Mandarin or you could get it in Russian -- on and on and on simultaneously, without the use of human translators.”
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Definitions（定義）
What are the definitions of "Happen"?How does "Happen" change by context?
2. to do or be something by chance
碰巧
I happened to see her at the supermarket.
我碰巧在超市看到她。
Do you happen to know the answer?
你剛好知道答案嗎？
He happened to be in the area.
他剛好就在那個區域。
3. to be the result or effect of something
（作為結果）出現，產生
What will happen if we miss the deadline?
如果我們錯過截止日期會產生什麼後果？
It happens that the best solution is also the simplest.
結果最好的解決辦法也是最簡單的。
4. to come into being or be found by chance
偶然發現；偶然出現
We happened upon a lovely little café.
我們偶然發現了一家可愛的小咖啡館。
The document happened to be in the old filing cabinet.
那份文件碰巧就在舊的檔案櫃裡。
Grammar & Patterns（句型）
What are common sentence patterns for "Happen"?How to make natural sentences with "Happen"?
| Pattern | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| happen + to + noun/pronoun | 發生在…身上 | Something strange happened to me yesterday. (昨天有件怪事發生在我身上。) |
| happen + to + verb (infinitive) | 碰巧… | I happened to see your brother at the mall. (我碰巧在購物中心看到你哥哥。) |
| happen + adverb (e.g., suddenly, quickly) | …發生（描述發生的方式） | The accident happened suddenly. (那場意外突然發生了。) |
| happen + prepositional phrase (e.g., in, at, on) | 在…（地點/時間）發生 | The meeting will happen in the main hall. (會議將在主廳舉行。) |
| What happened? | 發生了什麼事？ | You look upset. What happened? (你看起來很沮喪。發生了什麼事？) |
| happen + that-clause | 碰巧… | It happened that we were both in Paris at the same time. (碰巧我們當時都在巴黎。) |
用法說明
How is "Happen" different from similar structures?What usage mistakes are common with "Happen"?
happen to do vs happen doing
- happen to do 是最常見的結構，表示「碰巧、偶然」做某事，強調事件的偶然性。
- happen doing 在標準英語中極少使用，通常被視為不正確或非標準。
- 若要表達「在做某事時發生」，應使用 happen while doing 或 happen when doing。
- 另一個常見結構是 would happen to + V，用於假設或回想過去，表示「碰巧會…」。 EN: I happen to know the answer to that question. 翻譯: 我碰巧知道那個問題的答案。
EN:It would happen to rain on the day of our picnic.
翻譯:我們的野餐日那天偏偏就下雨了。
總結建議
建議統一使用「happen to + 動詞原形」來表達「碰巧做某事」，避免使用「happen doing」。
易混淆對比
What is the difference between "Happen" and similar words?How to choose "Happen" vs alternatives?
happen vs occur
「happen」較口語、通用，常指偶然或意外事件；「occur」較正式、客觀，多用於書面或特定事件。
happen vs take place
「happen」泛指事件發生，含偶然性；「take place」指預先安排或計劃好的事件發生。
happen vs arise
「happen」指事件發生；「arise」指問題、情況、機會等出現或產生，常接「from」說明原因。
口語用法
How is "Happen" used in spoken English?What is the spoken vs formal difference for "Happen"?
引述
在口語中，常用來引述或轉述聽到的消息或事件。 EN: So, what happened at the meeting? 翻譯: 所以，會議上發生了什麼事？
EN:I heard something happened to their car on the way.
翻譯:我聽說他們的車在路上出了點事。
語氣強調
與助動詞或副詞連用，以強調事件的突然性或意外性。 EN: That just happened out of nowhere! 翻譯: 那件事就這麼毫無預警地發生了！
EN:Did that really happen?
翻譯:那件事真的發生了嗎？
停頓填充
在思考或組織語句時，用作填充詞，類似「這個…」、「那個…」。 EN: So, what happened was... we missed the last train. 翻譯: 所以，事情是這樣的…我們錯過了末班車。
EN:And then it happened that... I saw him again at the store.
翻譯:然後碰巧…我又在商店裡看到他了。
注意：以上口語用法在正式寫作或報告中應避免，請使用更精確的動詞（如 occur, take place, transpire）來替代。
常見短語
What common collocations use "Happen"?What fixed phrases with "Happen" should I remember?
happen to
happen to [pronoun/name]
發生在（某人）身上
happen upon
happen upon [something/someone]
偶然發現；巧遇
as it happens
as it happens
碰巧；說來也巧
happen again
happen again
再次發生
whatever happens
whatever happens
無論發生什麼事
happen overnight
happen overnight
一夜之間發生；突然發生
happen to do something
happen to [verb]
碰巧做某事
常見錯誤
What are common mistakes with "Happen"?Which "Happen" sentences look correct but are wrong?
×It was happened yesterday.
✓It happened yesterday.
"happen" 是不及物動詞，不能用被動語態。它描述事件自然發生，而非被執行。
×What did happen?
✓What happened?
在疑問句中，當疑問詞（如 what, when, where）作主詞時，不需使用助動詞 "did"。"What" 在這裡就是主詞。
×I happened my keys.
✓I lost my keys. / Something happened to my keys.
"happen" 的主詞必須是「事件」本身，不能是人。人不能「發生」某物。要表達「某人遭遇某事」，需用 "happen to someone" 的結構。
×Let's see what will happen.
✓Let's see what happens.
在時間或條件副詞子句（由 when, if, before, after, until, as soon as, 以及這裡的 see what 引導的名詞子句）中，要用現在式代替未來式。
×It happens with me often.
✓It often happens to me.
表達「某事發生在某人身上」的固定介系詞是 "to"，而不是 "with"。"Happen with" 通常用於詢問或描述兩件事是否同時或相關聯地發生。
×I happened to meet him by chance.
✓I happened to meet him.
"happen to" 本身已含有「偶然、碰巧」的意思，再加上 "by chance" 會造成語意重複。應刪除 "by chance"。
詞形變化
What are the word forms of "Happen"?What are tense/participle forms of "Happen"?
happens(3rd_singular)happening(present_participle)happened(past)happened(past_participle)