Definition

1. Adverb:
   • As if by chance, seemingly coincidentally: Expresses a sense of something happening in a manner that appears unplanned or fortuitous, often with a tone of mild surprise or reflection. It is a more casual, conversational variant of "ngẫu nhiên" (by chance).

Usage Examples

• Adverb:
  • Ngẫu nhỉ, hôm nay chúng ta lại gặp nhau ở đây. (Seemingly by chance, we meet here again today.)
  • Anh ấy ngẫu nhỉ xuất hiện đúng lúc tôi cần giúp đỡ. (He showed up, as if by chance, right when I needed help.)

Advanced Usage

• Used to comment on a coincidence, often with a reflective or wondering tone, suggesting the event feels fated or pleasantly surprising.
  • Ngẫu nhỉ, cuộc đời thật nhiều điều trùng hợp. (It's funny how life has so many coincidences, isn't it?)

Variants and Related Words

• Ngẫu nhiên (adverb/adjective): By chance, random, accidental. This is the standard, more formal term.
  • Cuộc gặp gỡ đó hoàn toàn là ngẫu nhiên. (That meeting was completely by chance.)

Synonyms

• Tình cờ: By chance, accidentally.
• Vô tình: Unintentionally, inadvertently.

Notes on Usage

• "Ngẫu nhỉ" is informal and conversational. It is often used in spoken Vietnamese to soften a statement about a coincidence, adding a nuance of "isn't it interesting that..." or "fancy that...".
• It is not typically used in formal writing, where "ngẫu nhiên" or "tình cờ" would be preferred.

1. như ngẫu nhiên