/'hæpən; `hæpən/
v
1 (a) [I] occur (by chance or otherwise); take place （偶然地或必然地）出现; 发生
*How did the accident happen? 事故是怎么发生的?
* What happened next? 後来怎么啦?
* I'd stay if they promoted me, but I can't see that happening. 假若他们提升我, 我就留下来, 但我看那是不可能的.
(b) [Ipr] ~ to sb/sth be the experience or fate of sb/sth 成为某人[某事物]的体验或命运; 临到某人[某事物]头上
*If anything happens to him (ie If he has an accident), let me know. 万一他有什么不测, 就请通知我.
* What's happened to my clothes? ie Do you know where they are? 我的衣服到哪里去了?
2 have the (good or bad) fortune (to do sth); chance 碰巧; 恰巧; 恰好
*She happened to be out/It happened that she was out when he called. 他打电话时, 她恰巧不在家. =>Usage at appear 用法见appear.
3 [Ipr] ~ on sth (fml 文) find sth by chance 偶然发现某事物
*I happened on just the thing I'd been looking for. 我偶然发现了我一直在寻找的东西.
4 (idm 习语) accidents will happen => accident. as it happens/happened by coincidence or chance 碰巧; 偶然
*We met her only yesterday, as it happens. 我们只是在昨天才与她偶然相遇.

NOTE ON USAGE 用法
*Compare happen, occur and take place. 试比较happen、occur、take place这三个词语. Happen and occur refer to accidental or unplanned events; occur is more formal than happen *happen和occur指偶然发生的或未经筹画的事件;occur比happen文雅些
*The accident happened/occurred at about 9.30. 事故发生在9点30分左右. Happen canalso indicate one event resulting from another *happen亦可指某件事是由另一事引起的
*What happened when you told him the news? (ie What did he do?) 你告诉他这消息时, 他有何反应? Take place suggests that an event is/was planned *take place指的事情是有计画的
*The funeral took place on
24 April at
3 pm. 葬礼已于4月24月下午3时举行.

v [I]
[Date: 1300-1400; Origin: hap ( HAPPY)]
when something happens, there is an event, especially one that is not planned
= occur
　When did the accident happen?
　It's impossible to predict what will happen next.
sth/nothing/anything happens
　Something terrible has happened.
　She carried on as if nothing had happened.
　This was bound to happen sooner or later.
　This kind of thing happens all the time .
　We'll still be friends, whatever happens .
sth/anything/what happens to sb/sth
if something happens to someone or something, they are affected by an event
　He should be here by now - something must have happened to him.
　The same thing happened to me last year.
　What's happened to your coat? It's all ripped.
　What will happen to the collection now?
happen to do sth
if you happen to do something, you do it by chance
　I happened to see James in town.
sb/sth happens to be sth
used when telling someone something in an angry way
　This happens to be my house!
as it happens/it just so happens
used to tell someone something that is surprising, interesting, or useful
　As it happens, I know someone who might be able to help you.
these things happen
used to tell someone not to worry about a mistake they have made, an accident they have caused etc
　It's not your fault - these things happen.
whatever happened to sb/sth?
used to ask where a person or thing is now
　Whatever happened to Steve? I haven't seen him for years.
→accidents (will) happenataccident
happen on/upon / [happen on/upon sb/sth] phr v
to find something or meet someone by chance
　I happened on the restaurant by chance.