by chance; coincidentally; unexpectedly
Describes something happening accidentally or without planning, often with a nuance of fortunate or surprising timing.
I ran into an old friend by chance at the station.
rarely; seldom; once in a while
Indicates low frequency; something that does not happen often. Often used with a negative or limiting expression.
I got an out-of-print book at a secondhand bookstore I happened to find.
He rarely goes back to his hometown.
On the rare days off, I go to a hot spring.
Rare kanji spelling; the kana form is strongly preferred in modern usage.
Derived from たま (occasional) + さか (an old suffix indicating manner or degree). The exact historical development is uncertain, but it has been used since classical Japanese to express rarity or chance.