• 当然とうぜん — naturally, as a matter of course
• 自然しぜん — nature
• 偶然ぐうぜん — coincidence, chance
• 必然ひつぜん — necessity, inevitability
• 全然ぜんぜん — completely, totally
• 突然とつぜん — suddenly

The character 然 originally depicted a piece of meat (⺼) being burned (灬), symbolizing a state or condition. It evolved into a phonetic and semantic component in many compound words, often conveying the idea of “as it is,” “in that state,” or “accordingly.”

彼かれは 自然しぜんが好すきです。
He loves nature.

偶然ぐうぜんに彼女かのじょと会あいました。
I ran into her by chance.

当然とうぜんの結果けっかです。
It’s the natural result.

🎧 A pronunciation guide will be added soon. Please check back later!