A1 Collocation Neutral

Ta sjansen

Take the chance

Phrase in 30 Seconds

Use 'ta sjansen' when you decide to go for something despite the risk of failure.

  • Means: To take a risk or seize an opportunity.
  • Used in: Career moves, dating, or trying new hobbies.
  • Don't confuse: With 'få en sjanse' which means receiving an opportunity.
Uncertainty ❓ + Action 🏃 = Taking the chance 🎲

Explanation at your level:

At this level, 'ta sjansen' is a simple command or desire. You use it to say 'I want to try' or 'You should try'. It is a fixed block of words. You don't need to worry about complex grammar, just remember that 'ta' is the action and 'sjansen' is the thing you are taking. It's like saying 'Go for it!'
Now you can start using the phrase in different tenses. You can talk about a chance you took yesterday (Jeg tok sjansen) or something you are planning to do. You also learn to use it with 'på' to explain what the risk is, like 'ta sjansen på å reise'. This allows you to describe simple life choices and daily risks.
At the intermediate level, you use 'ta sjansen' to give advice and discuss pros and cons. You can contrast it with 'å være forsiktig' (to be careful). You understand the nuance between 'ta sjansen' (active) and 'få muligheten' (passive). You can use it in subordinate clauses to explain your motivations for taking a risk in a job or social setting.
You can now use the phrase in more abstract contexts, such as business strategy or political commentary. You understand the subtle difference between 'ta sjansen' and 'gripe muligheten'. You can discuss the cultural implications of risk-taking in Norway and use the phrase to express hypothetical scenarios using the subjunctive or conditional moods (Jeg ville ha tatt sjansen hvis...).
At this advanced level, you recognize the idiomatic weight of the phrase and its rhetorical power. You can use it to analyze literature or media, identifying when a character 'tar sjansen' as a turning point in a narrative. You are comfortable with all irregular forms and can integrate the phrase into sophisticated arguments about social safety nets and individual initiative, using precise academic vocabulary.
You have a near-native grasp of the phrase's semantic prosody. You understand how 'ta sjansen' interacts with Norwegian pragmatics—how it can be used ironically, dismissively, or as a profound call to action. You can deconstruct the etymological journey from Latin 'cadentia' to modern Norwegian usage and discuss its cognitive linguistic framing of 'risk as an object' that can be physically 'taken'.

Bedeutung

Risking an action for a potential gain.

🌍

Kultureller Hintergrund

The TV show 'Ta Sjansen' at Holmenkollen made this phrase a household name for creative, fun risk-taking. It involved homemade boats sliding down a ski jump ramp. The concept of 'Friluftsliv' (outdoor life) often involves 'taking the chance' on weather conditions, but always with deep respect for nature's power. Norwegian workplace hierarchy is flat, so employees are often encouraged to 'ta sjansen' and suggest new ideas to their bosses without fear. Norwegians can be reserved, so 'å ta sjansen' is often used as a motivational phrase to encourage people to be more social or outgoing.

🎯

Use the Definite

Always prefer 'ta sjansen' over 'ta en sjanse' for a more native sound when talking about general risks.

⚠️

Don't over-risk

Don't use this for dangerous illegal acts; it carries a connotation of 'bravery' which doesn't fit crime.

Bedeutung

Risking an action for a potential gain.

🎯

Use the Definite

Always prefer 'ta sjansen' over 'ta en sjanse' for a more native sound when talking about general risks.

⚠️

Don't over-risk

Don't use this for dangerous illegal acts; it carries a connotation of 'bravery' which doesn't fit crime.

💬

Encouragement

It's a very supportive phrase. Use it to cheer on your Norwegian friends!

Teste dich selbst

Fyll inn riktig form av verbet 'å ta'.

I fjor ___ jeg sjansen og flyttet til Bergen.

✓ Richtig! ✗ Nicht ganz. Richtige Antwort: tok

We need the past tense (preteritum) because of the time marker 'I fjor' (Last year).

Hvilken setning er mest naturlig?

Du vil gjerne ha en ny jobb. Hva sier vennen din?

✓ Richtig! ✗ Nicht ganz. Richtige Antwort: Du må ta sjansen!

'Ta sjansen' is the standard idiom for encouraging someone to take a risk.

Match situasjonen med riktig bruk av 'ta sjansen'.

Situasjon: Du er på fjellet og været er litt dårlig, men du vil nå toppen.

✓ Richtig! ✗ Nicht ganz. Richtige Antwort: Jeg tar sjansen på at det blir sol snart.

This expresses a risk based on an uncertain but hoped-for outcome (the sun coming out).

Fullfør dialogen.

A: Skal vi investere i dette firmaet? B: Det er risikabelt, men jeg synes vi skal ___.

✓ Richtig! ✗ Nicht ganz. Richtige Antwort: ta sjansen

In an investment context, you 'take the chance' (risk).

🎉 Ergebnis: /4

Visuelle Lernhilfen

Ta vs. Få

Ta sjansen
Active You do it
Courage Requires bravery
Få sjansen
Passive It happens to you
Luck Requires opportunity

Häufig gestellte Fragen

14 Fragen

Mostly, yes. It implies courage and the hope for a good outcome, even if there is risk involved.

Yes, it is grammatically correct and means 'take a chance'. However, 'ta sjansen' is the more common idiomatic collocation.

'Sjanse' implies risk or luck, while 'mulighet' is a more neutral word for 'opportunity' or 'possibility'.

You say 'Jeg tok sjansen'.

It is neutral. You can use it in almost any setting, from casual chats to business meetings.

Usually no. You wouldn't say 'I took the chance on getting sick'. You use it for things you *want* to happen.

Usually 'på'. For example: 'Ta sjansen på noe'.

Yes, 'å gønne på' is a very casual way to say you are just going for it without thinking.

Etymologically yes, but today it is used for all life situations.

Yes, it is very common in both spoken and written Norwegian.

You can say 'Jeg tok sjansen, men det gikk ikke'.

'Gripe' is stronger and faster. Use 'ta' for general decisions and 'gripe' for sudden opportunities.

It's like the 'sh' in 'ship', but with the tongue slightly further back.

Rarely. You usually take 'the' chance (singular) of a specific situation.

Verwandte Redewendungen

🔄

gripe muligheten

synonym

To seize the opportunity

🔗

hoppe i det

similar

To jump into it

🔗

våge

builds on

To dare

🔗

risikere

similar

To risk

🔗

la sjansen gå fra seg

contrast

To let the chance pass

Wo du es verwendest

💼

Job Interview

Interviewer: Hvorfor søkte du på denne jobben?

Applicant: Jeg ville ta sjansen på å lære noe helt nytt.

formal
❤️

Dating

Venn: Skal du be ham ut?

Deg: Ja, jeg må bare ta sjansen!

informal
🪂

Extreme Sports

Instruktør: Er du klar for å hoppe?

Elev: Nei, men jeg tar sjansen likevel!

informal
📈

Investing

Rådgiver: Aksjemarkedet er usikkert nå.

Investor: Jeg tar sjansen og kjøper nå.

neutral
🍕

Ordering Food

Kompis: Er den pizzaen med ananas god?

Deg: Jeg vet ikke, men jeg tar sjansen.

informal
✈️

Moving Abroad

Mamma: Er du sikker på at du vil flytte til Japan?

Deg: Ja, jeg må ta sjansen mens jeg er ung.

neutral

Memorize It

Mnemonic

Think of the 'TA' in 'TA sjansen' as 'Try Anything'. When you TA sjansen, you Try Anything to succeed!

Visual Association

Imagine a person standing on a diving board over a pool of gold coins. They are taking a deep breath, closing their eyes, and 'taking the chance' by jumping in.

Rhyme

Vil du vinne glansen? Da må du ta sjansen!

Story

Lars was a shy baker. He had a secret recipe for 'Cloudberry Cake'. One day, a famous food critic walked by. Lars was nervous, but he decided to 'ta sjansen'. He gave the critic a slice, and the next day, his bakery was famous across Norway.

Word Web

sjansemulighetrisikovågetørrelykkeuhellgevinst

Herausforderung

Today, find one small thing you are hesitant about (like texting a friend or trying a new food) and say to yourself: 'Jeg tar sjansen!' then do it.

In Other Languages

Spanish moderate

Arriesgarse / Aprovechar la oportunidad

Spanish uses a reflexive verb ('arriesgarse') while Norwegian uses a verb-noun collocation.

French high

Saisir sa chance

French often uses 'tenter' (try) whereas Norwegian prefers 'ta' (take).

German high

Die Chance ergreifen / Das Risiko eingehen

German is slightly more formal and often separates 'chance' from 'risk' more strictly.

Japanese partial

思い切ってやってみる (Omoikitte yattemiru)

Japanese emphasizes the psychological resolve over the external opportunity.

Arabic moderate

اغتنام الفرصة (Ightinam al-fursa)

Arabic focuses more on the 'gain' (booty/prize) aspect of the chance.

Chinese moderate

碰运气 (Pèng yùnqì) / 抓住机会 (Zhuāzhù jīhuì)

Chinese has distinct phrases for 'luck' vs 'opportunity' where Norwegian uses 'sjanse' for both.

Korean high

기회를 잡다 (Gihwereul japda)

Korean uses the verb 'catch' rather than 'take'.

Portuguese moderate

Arriscar / Aproveitar a chance

Portuguese usually requires different verbs depending on whether the outcome is seen as a risk or a benefit.

Easily Confused

Ta sjansen vs. få sjansen

Learners mix up 'taking' (active) and 'getting' (passive) a chance.

Use 'ta' when YOU act. Use 'få' when someone ELSE gives you the opportunity.

Ta sjansen vs. ha sjansen

Confusing the action with the state of having an opportunity.

'Ha' is a state, 'Ta' is an action.

FAQ (14)

Mostly, yes. It implies courage and the hope for a good outcome, even if there is risk involved.

Yes, it is grammatically correct and means 'take a chance'. However, 'ta sjansen' is the more common idiomatic collocation.

'Sjanse' implies risk or luck, while 'mulighet' is a more neutral word for 'opportunity' or 'possibility'.

You say 'Jeg tok sjansen'.

It is neutral. You can use it in almost any setting, from casual chats to business meetings.

Usually no. You wouldn't say 'I took the chance on getting sick'. You use it for things you *want* to happen.

Usually 'på'. For example: 'Ta sjansen på noe'.

Yes, 'å gønne på' is a very casual way to say you are just going for it without thinking.

Etymologically yes, but today it is used for all life situations.

Yes, it is very common in both spoken and written Norwegian.

You can say 'Jeg tok sjansen, men det gikk ikke'.

'Gripe' is stronger and faster. Use 'ta' for general decisions and 'gripe' for sudden opportunities.

It's like the 'sh' in 'ship', but with the tongue slightly further back.

Rarely. You usually take 'the' chance (singular) of a specific situation.

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