正逢 (zhèng féng) — to coincide with (a time or event), to happen to encounter

Definition

A formal verb meaning two events happen at the same time, often by chance. Highlights coincidence (happened to occur during) rather than direct causation.

verb
to coincide with (a time or event)to happen to encounter

Examples

  • 正逢，。
    Wǒ men zhèng féng guó qìng jié, jiē shàng fēi cháng rè nao.
    We happened to encounter National Day, and the streets were very lively.
  • 正逢，。
    Zhè cì lǚ xíng zhèng féng yǔ jì, suǒ yǐ dài le sǎn.
    This trip coincided with the rainy season, so I brought an umbrella.
  • 正逢，。
    Tā bì yè nà nián zhèng féng jīng jì wēi jī, zhǎo gōng zuò hěn nán.
    The year he graduated coincided with an economic crisis, making it hard to find a job.

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.

正zhèngjust
逢féngmeet

正 means just and 逢 means meet, so it describes happening to meet at exactly the right time.

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
止止zhǐ
Sound part声符shēngfú
丁
丁dīng正zhèng
Same sound today

正 pairs 止 with 丁; 止 marks the sense and 丁 gives the sound.

Open 正 →

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
夆
夆páng逢féng
Same sound today

In 逢, 辶 is the walking part and 夆 is the sound part.

Open 逢 →

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