たまに

た

ま

に

Common wordJLPTN4Freq.FrequencyTop 5,000

Meanings

usually written using kana alone

Describes an event that happens infrequently, but not extremely rarely. Common in everyday speech.

たまに〈動どう詞し〉to occasionally do something
たまに友とも達だちと映えい画がを見みに行いく。
I go see a movie with friends once in a while.
たまにしか〈動どう詞し〉ないto rarely do something (emphasizing infrequency)
彼かれはたまにしか電でん話わをくれない。
He only calls me once in a while.

時とき々どきN5
時々 means 'sometimes' and implies a somewhat higher frequency than たまに, which leans toward 'once in a while'.
たまたまN3
たまに describes something happening infrequently but regularly, while たまたま stresses that an event happened purely by chance.
時ときに
時に means 'sometimes' with a broader or more formal nuance, while たまに is the everyday word implying a lower, more casual frequency.
時ときとして
たまに stresses rarity ('once in a while'), while 時として simply notes that an exceptional case can occur without emphasizing how rare it is.

Show 6 more

時とき折おりN2
たまに is more casual and suggests a lower frequency than 時折, which implies a somewhat regular, if irregular, recurrence.
ままN1
たまに suggests a lower frequency ('once in a while') than 間々, which can describe slightly more regular occurrences.
時ときにはN1
たまに is more casual and implies a lower, more occasional frequency than 時には, which can be used in both formal and informal contexts.
折おり々おり
たまに is a casual, spoken word for 'rarely/occasionally,' whereas 折々 has a more formal, writerly tone.
ちょいちょいN1
たまに means 'occasionally' with a lower implied frequency, while ちょいちょい suggests a bit more regularity.
ちょくちょくN1
たまに means 'occasionally', with longer gaps between occurrences, while ちょくちょく suggests a noticeably higher frequency.

いつもN5
いつも means 'always', the direct opposite of たまに's infrequent 'once in a while'.
しょっちゅうN2
たまに means 'occasionally', the opposite frequency from しょっちゅう's 'constantly, all the time'.
毎まい回かい
たまに means 'occasionally', the opposite of 毎回's sense of 'every single time'.

Show 8 more

何なん度どもN2
何度も means something happens many times, while たまに means it happens only occasionally.
常つねにN3
たまに means 'occasionally', the direct opposite of 常に's 'always, constantly'.
絶たえずN2
たまに means 'occasionally,' the opposite of 絶えず's sense of something happening without any pause.
日ひ頃ごろN2
日頃 describes what happens habitually or all the time, while たまに describes something that happens only occasionally.
年ねんがら年ねん中じゅうN1
たまに means 'occasionally', the direct opposite of the ceaseless repetition expressed by 年がら年中.
しげしげN1
たまに means 'occasionally', the opposite of しげしげ's sense of frequent, repeated action.
ひっきりなしにN1
たまに means 'occasionally, once in a while', the direct opposite of ひっきりなしに's sense of nonstop occurrence.
何なん回かいもN5
何回も describes something happening many times, while たまに describes something happening only occasionally.

たまにUsage99%
The word is usually written in kana. The kanji form 偶に exists but is less common.
偶たまにUsage1%
Kanji form; less common than kana. The reading たまに is standard.
適たまに
rarely-used kanji form
Rarely used kanji form; Not recommended for learners.

Derived from the noun 偶 (たま, 'rare occasion') with the adverbial particle に. The kanji 偶 carries the meaning of 'by chance' or 'rarely'.