even · chance

1. Origins, structure, and basic meaning

• Structure: 偶 appears in words for paired numbers and chance; its on-reading is ぐう.
• Basic usage: 偶数(ぐうすう) means an even number, while 偶然(ぐうぜん) means chance or coincidence.

2. Common pitfalls and similar expressions

• A chance meeting
  • 偶然会う means to meet by chance rather than by arrangement. 偶然 can modify an action this way as well as function as a noun.
• What counts as even
  • 偶数 is an integer divisible by two. It can describe a head count that allows everyone to form pairs.