遇到 (yù dào) — to meet (by chance), to run into, to come across | TongTong Chinese Dictionary

Definition

遇到 is for running into someone or something by chance — including non-people like problems (∼过这样的问题吗?). Unlike 见面, which implies a planned meeting, 遇到 is unplanned and can take problems or situations as its object.

verb

to meet (by chance)to run intoto come across

Examples

遇到。
Wǒ zài gōng yuán yù dào yí wèi péng you.
I ran into a friend at the park.
遇到？
Nǐ yù dào guò zhè yàng de wèn tí ma?
Have you ever encountered such a problem?
遇到。
Zuó tiān wǒ zài lù shang yù dào tā le.
Yesterday I ran into him on the road.

Origin

Compound word

构词法gòucífǎ

补充bǔchōngVerb + complement

An action followed by its result or direction.

遇 means meet and 到 means arrive; together they express coming across someone or something.

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.

辶禺遇

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.

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

至至zhìto arrive

Sound part声符shēngfú

刀

刀dāo到dào

Same sound today

到 combines 至, meaning 'to arrive', with 刀 as the sound part. The 至 part points to the idea of reaching a stopping point.

Appears in

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