际遇 (jì yù) — life's circumstances and fortune (good or bad)

Definition

际遇 (jìyù) refers to the circumstances and turns of fortune a person encounters in life — both the hardships and the opportunities. A literary, written word: in speech 机会 or 命运 would be more natural.

noun
life's circumstances and fortune (good or bad)

Examples

  • 际遇，。
    Tā jì yù kǎn kě, jīng lì le hěn duō mó nàn.
    His life was full of ups and downs; he experienced many hardships.
  • 际遇。
    Zhè cì chū guó jiāo liú shì wǒ rén shēng zhōng de zhòng yào jì yù.
    This overseas exchange is an important opportunity in my life.
  • 际遇，。
    Měi gè rén de jì yù bù tóng, dàn zhòng yào de shì rú hé bǎ wò jī huì.
    Everyone's life circumstances are different, but the important thing is how to seize opportunities.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéSide by side

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

际jìoccasion
遇yùencounter

际遇 joins 际 (occasion) and 遇 (encounter) to mean life's circumstances.

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.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 際; 际 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
阝Written in full as阜fù
Sound part声符shēngfú
祭
祭jì際⁰jì
Same sound today

The traditional form 際 pairs 阝 with 祭: 阝 gives the meaning and 祭 gives the sound. The simplified 际 is a later shorthand.

Open 际 →

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
辶Written in full as辵chuò
Sound part声符shēngfú
禺
禺yú遇yù
Same sound today

遇 combines 辶, a walking-related part, with 禺, which gives the sound. The 辶 part shows that the meaning involves walking or moving.

Open 遇 →

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