わざと

Pattern visualization

Examples

1. 弟はわざと私を困らせます。▶ —
   My little brother troubles me on purpose.
2. わざとではなく、うっかり間違えました。▶ —
   It was not on purpose; I made a careless mistake.

Collocations

Mnemonic

わざと — an adverb written in kana. It conveys that an action was done "on purpose, deliberately," not by chance. Its opposites are うっかり (carelessly) and 偶然 (by chance). わざとじゃない (it was not on purpose) is common in excuses and explanations. It marks an action as intentional.

Quick check

1. Which word is the opposite of わざと?

   • うっかり (carelessly)
   • はっきり (clearly)
   • しっかり (firmly)
   • ゆっくり (slowly)