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机缘 (jī yuán) — a fortunate opportunity or coincidence that seems fated; serendipitous chance; (Buddhist) a predestined situation or karmic condition

Definition

机缘 names a 'fated opportunity' — a timely chance that feels karmically right rather than merely lucky. In Buddhist contexts it points to a predestined condition; in everyday use it often pairs with 巧合 (coincidence) to stress the destined feel.

noun
a fortunate opportunity or coincidence that seems fatedserendipitous chance(Buddhist) a predestined situation or karmic condition

Examples

  • 机缘，。
    Zhè cì lǚ xíng ràng wǒ yù dào le hěn duō jī yuán, rèn shi le bù shǎo yǒu qù de rén.
    This trip brought me many serendipitous encounters and I met quite a few interesting people.
  • ，机缘。
    Tā men néng zài yì qǐ gōng zuò, zhēn shì nán dé de jī yuán.
    It's a truly rare opportunity that they can work together.
  • 机缘，。
    jī yuán Wèi dào, qiǎng qiú bù dé.
    When the karmic opportunity hasn't arrived, you can't force it.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéCoordinate

Two parts of equal weight, alike or opposite in meaning, standing side by side.

机jīchance
缘yuánfate/affinity

机 is chance or opportunity, and 缘 is fate or affinity, yielding a lucky chance.

Characters in this word

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
木木mùtree; wood
Sound part声符shēngfú
几
几jǐ机jī
Same sound today

The left part is 木 (tree; wood), and the right part 几 gives the sound.

Open 机 →

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 緣; 缘 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
糹Written in full as糸mì
Sound part声符shēngfú
彖
彖tuàn緣⁰yuán
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 緣 puts 糸 (silk) beside 彖, which gives the sound; the simplified 缘 is a later abbreviation.

Open 缘 →
Appears in
Religion & Belief

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