巧遇 (qiǎo yù) — chance encounter

Definition

A noun for a happy, chance meeting — implies the encounter was both unexpected and fortunate. Similar to 偶然相遇 but emphasizes the lucky twist rather than the randomness itself.

noun
chance encounter

Examples

  • 巧遇。
    Nà cì lǚ xíng zhōng de qiǎo yù ràng wǒ zhōng shēn nán wàng.
    That chance encounter on the trip was unforgettable for life.
  • 巧遇。
    Tā men shì zài shū diàn lǐ qiǎo yù de.
    They met by chance in a bookstore.
  • 巧遇。
    Yí cì ǒu rán de qiǎo yù gǎi biàn le wǒ de shēng huó.
    A random chance encounter changed my life.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
偏正piānzhèngModifier + head

The first part narrows down the second: it says what kind of thing the head is.

巧qiǎocoincidental
遇yùmeet

巧 gives a chance-like sense, and 遇 is a meeting.

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
工工gōng
Sound part声符shēngfú
丂
丂kǎo巧qiǎo
Same sound today

巧 is made of 工 and 丂; 工 points to its meaning, and 丂 points to its sound.

Open 巧 →

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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