遭到 (zāo dào) — to suffer, to meet with (something unfortunate) | TongTong Chinese Dictionary

Definition

Used for things (disasters, losses, opposition) happening to someone — 'to suffer' or 'to meet with'. 比遭遇 more passive and common; 比遭受 lighter, used for both major and minor setbacks.

verb

to sufferto meet with (something unfortunate)

Examples

遭到。
Tā zài shì gù zhōng zāo dào le zhòng shāng.
He suffered serious injuries in the accident.
遭到。
Zhè ge jì huà zāo dào le suǒ yǒu rén de fǎn duì.
This plan met with everyone's opposition.
遭到。
Gōng sī qù nián zāo dào le yán zhòng de jīng jì sǔn shī.
The company suffered severe economic losses last year.

Origin

Compound word

构词法gòucífǎ

补充bǔchōngVerb + complement

An action followed by its result or direction.

遭zāoencounter

遭 is to encounter, and 到 adds the idea of reaching or completing that encounter, so the word means to suffer 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.

辶曹遭

Meaning part形符xíngfú

辶Written in full as辵chuòmovement

Sound part声符shēngfú

曹

曹cáo遭zāo

Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

遭 pairs 辶, the walking part, with 曹, which gives the sound; the shape is for meeting on the road.

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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