occur
- v. 发生
- v. 被想到
- v. 存在
- Definition
- v. to happen
- v. to come into someone's mind
- v. to exist
- Example
- Accidents can occur when drivers use their phones.
- 司机使用手机时可能会发生事故。
Synonyms & Differences 近义词辨析
Compared meaning: to happen or take place (verb).
比较义项：发生（动词）。
- occur 本词
More formal and written in register; typically used for accidents, incidents, or notable events; often used impersonally ('it occurs to me') or in formal reports.
语域更正式、更书面；通常用于描述事故、意外或重大事件；也常用于非人称结构（如“it occurs to me”）或正式报告中。
A rare chemical reaction can occur when the two substances are mixed together.
当这两种物质混合在一起时，可能会发生一种罕见的化学反应。
- happen
More casual and everyday; used for ordinary events in conversation; commonly takes 'to' to say something affects a person, which occur does not do naturally.
更口语、更日常；常用于谈论日常生活中的普通事件；常与介词 to 连用，表示某事发生在某人身上，而 occur 通常不这样自然搭配。
I hope nothing bad happens to you while you're travelling alone.
我希望你独自旅行时不会遇到什么不好的事情。
Both words mean that something takes place. Occur is more formal and written, often used for accidents or abstract events, with the event itself as the subject. Happen is more everyday and common, and often takes 'to' to show something affects a person.
两词都表示事情“发生”，但 occur 更正式、书面化，常用于描述意外、事故或抽象事件，主语通常是事件本身；happen 更口语、日常，使用范围更广，常带 to 表示“某人遭遇某事”。