chance

Compared meaning: an occasion that allows something (noun).

比较义项：机会（名词）。

• opportunity

  More formal than chance; usually describes a favorable situation created or arranged for personal or professional growth, as in fixed phrases like 'equal opportunity' or 'job opportunity'.

  比chance更正式；通常指为个人成长或职业发展而安排、创造出来的有利处境，常见于固定搭配，如“equal opportunity”（机会均等）或“job opportunity”（工作机会）。

  Many companies say they are equal opportunity employers.

  许多公司都说自己是机会均等的雇主。

• chance 本词

  Less formal than opportunity; often implies an element of luck or a limited, possibly one-time opening, as in the idiom 'second chance'.

  比opportunity更口语化；往往带有运气成分，或暗示机会有限、可能只有一次，例如习语“second chance”（第二次机会）。

  Everyone deserves a second chance to make things right.

  每个人都应该获得改正错误的第二次机会。

Opportunity and chance both mean an occasion that allows something good to happen. Opportunity is formal, describing a favorable situation created for personal or professional growth, as in 'job opportunity'. Chance is less formal, implying luck or a limited, one-time occasion, as in 'second chance'.

opportunity 和 chance 在“机会”这个意义上很接近，但语气不同：opportunity 比较正式，常指经过安排或创造出来的、对个人发展有利的机会，多用于工作、学习等场合；chance 比较口语化，往往带有运气成分，或暗示机会有限、可能是最后一次，例如“second chance”（第二次机会）。

Compared meaning: the likelihood that something happens (noun).

比较义项：可能性（名词）。

• chance 本词

  The everyday, informal word for likelihood, often paired with adjectives like 'slim' or 'good' and used in casual conversation rather than technical or statistical contexts.

  这是日常、非正式的“可能性”说法，常与 slim（渺茫的）、good（很大的）等形容词搭配，多用于日常对话，而非技术性或统计性语境。

  There's only a slim chance we'll finish the project by Friday.

  我们在周五前完成这个项目的可能性很小。

• probability

  The more formal, often quantifiable term, common in statistics, science and forecasting, typically used with numbers or percentages rather than everyday adjectives.

  这是更正式、常可量化的说法，多见于统计学、科学研究和预测中，通常与具体数字或百分比连用，而不是日常口语中的形容词搭配。

  The probability of the disease spreading was estimated at 30 percent.

  这种疾病传播的概率估计为百分之三十。

Chance and probability can both mean the likelihood something happens. Chance is the everyday, informal word, often paired with adjectives like 'slim' or 'good'. Probability is more formal and quantifiable, common in statistics and forecasts, with numbers. Chance can mean 'an opportunity'; not compared here.

chance 和 probability 在这个义项上都表示“某事发生的可能性”，但 chance 更口语化、笼统，常与 slim（渺茫的）、good（很大的）等形容词搭配；probability 更正式、可量化，常见于统计学、科学研究和天气预报中，多与具体数字或百分比连用。这里不比较 chance 的“机会”义项。

Compared meaning: to happen by accident (verb).

比较义项：偶然发生、碰巧（动词）。

• happen

  The everyday, neutral verb for coincidence; used in the pattern 'happen to do something' and the impersonal 'it happens that...'; very common in speech.

  日常、中性的动词，表示巧合，常用于“happen to do something”结构，也可用于无人称结构“it happens that…”，在口语中非常常见。

  I happened to have my umbrella when it started raining.

  我碰巧带了雨伞，结果开始下雨了。

• chance 本词

  A more formal, literary verb, mainly in 'chance to do something' or 'chance upon'; rarer in everyday speech and always stresses pure accident with no plan.

  较为正式、文学化的动词，主要用于“chance to do something”或“chance upon”结构，日常口语中较少见，且总是强调纯属偶然、毫无计划。

  As fate would have it, we chanced to meet again years later.

  冥冥之中，我们多年后又偶然重逢了。

Happen and chance can mean to do something by accident. Happen is the everyday, neutral verb, common in speech, as in 'happen to do something'. Chance is more formal and literary, rarer in speech, and always stresses pure accident with no plan.

这两个词在“偶然发生”这一义项上意思相近，但happen是日常口语中最常用的中性说法，而chance作动词时更正式、更书面化，如今较少使用。这里不比较happen常见的“发生、举行”（不含碰巧义）用法，也不比较chance作名词“机会”或动词“冒险”（take a chance）等其他义项。

Compared meaning: to risk something dangerous (verb).

比较义项：冒险，使处于危险之中（动词）。

• risk

  The most common and neutral word for risking something; used with concrete or abstract objects and freely in both speech and writing.

  “冒险”一词中最常用、最中性，可用于具体或抽象的宾语，口语和书面语中都很常用。

  He risked his savings to start his own restaurant.

  他冒着赔上积蓄的风险开了自己的餐馆。

• adventure

  Very rare and old-fashioned as a verb; today it survives mainly in fixed literary phrases like 'adventure oneself', not in everyday speech.

  作动词的用法非常少见、老式，如今主要出现在“adventure oneself”这类固定的文学表达中，而不用于日常口语。

  The young knight resolved to adventure himself into the dragon's lair.

  这位年轻骑士决心冒险闯入巨龙的巢穴。

• chance 本词

  Informal, and implies relying on luck rather than careful judgment; often used with 'it', as in 'chance it', for plans and decisions.

  口语化，强调靠运气而非周密判断，常与“it”连用，如“chance it”，用于计划、决定等场合。

  She decided to chance it and drive through the storm without a map.

  她决定碰碰运气，在没有地图的情况下冒着暴风雨开车。

• hazard

  Formal or literary, often collocates with 'a guess' or 'an opinion', meaning to venture something tentatively despite possible criticism, not physical danger.

  正式或书面用语，常与“a guess”或“an opinion”搭配，表示尽管可能招致批评也大胆地试着提出看法，而不是指身体上的危险。

  The intern hesitated, then hazarded a guess about the final answer.

  实习生犹豫了一下，然后大胆猜了一下最终答案。

Risk, adventure, chance, and hazard can all mean to risk something. Risk is the most common and neutral. Adventure is rare and old-fashioned as a verb today. Chance is informal, meaning to rely on luck. Hazard is formal, often used with a guess.

这四个词在“冒险，使处于危险之中”这一动词义项上意思相近，但语域和常见搭配不同：risk最常用、最中性，hazard正式书面、常见于“hazard a guess”这类固定搭配，chance口语化、强调靠运气而非判断，adventure作动词极为罕见、古雅。此处不比较risk“风险”、chance“机会、偶然”、adventure“冒险经历”等名词义项，也不比较hazard作名词“障碍物”的用法。