Japanese word

たま

Pronunciation

Romajitama

Meaning

  • na-adjectiveoccasionally

Example

たまに映画を見ます。ta ma ni ei ga o mi ma su

I occasionally watch movies.

Illustration for たま (occasionally)

More examples

私はたまに友達と電話で話します。watashi wa ta ma ni tomo dachi to den wa de hana shi ma su

I occasionally talk with my friends on the phone.

Core concept

It describes something that occurs at infrequent intervals without being completely unusual.

Common phrases

  • たまに行くta ma ni i ku

    go occasionally

  • たまに会うta ma ni a u

    meet occasionally

Similar words

まれmare: Happening infrequently, with the low frequency often making the event seem unusual.
たまさかtamasaka: Happening rarely and sometimes by chance rather than as part of a regular pattern.

Definition in Japanese

物事が頻繁ではなく、時折起こるさま。mono goto ga hin pan de wa na ku toki ori o ko ru sa ma

Word origin

たま (tama, "occasional") is a native Japanese word whose adverbial form is たまに (tama ni), with に (ni) marking its use as an adverb.

Usage tips

  • Before a noun, たまの (tama no) describes an occasional event, while たまに (tama ni) normally modifies an action.

Other meanings

  • rarelyna-adjective

Opposites

Word lists with this word