zong6 ngaam1撞啱

Jyutpingzong6 ngaam1

Yalejohng ngāam

副詞

Definition

To happen to; by chance or coincidence.

colloquialdaily actionstime

How it's used

Expresses a sense of serendipity or coincidence, often implying that an action was possible only because of a specific, unplanned timing. It functions as an adverbial modifier to describe how an event aligns with another situation. Unlike formal expressions for coincidence, this carries a very natural, conversational tone suitable for daily social interactions.

Examples

ngo5我zong6撞ngaam1啱gam1今jat6日fong3放gaa3假，ho2可ji5以pui4陪nei5你heoi3去tai2睇hei3戲。

I happen to be off today, so I can go watch a movie with you.

nei5你tau4頭sin1先daa2打lai4嚟go2嗰zan6陣，hai6係mai6咪zong6撞ngaam1啱ngo5我cung1沖gan2緊loeng4涼aa4呀？

When you called just now, did you happen to catch me while I was showering?

Common phrases

zong6撞ngaam1啱si4時gaan3間

to happen to be at the right time

zong6撞ngaam1啱gei1機wui6會

to happen to have the opportunity

Common mistake

Learners often confuse this with 撞到, which literally means to bump into someone physically. Remember that 撞啱 focuses on the timing of events, whereas 撞到 is about physical contact or encountering someone by chance.