遭劫 (zāo jié) — (verb-object) to suffer a disaster, to be robbed or hijacked

Definition

A literary verb-object phrase meaning 'to suffer a disaster or robbery' (劫 = disaster / robbery). Far more formal and written than everyday 遇到困难, and typically used for ships, cities, or travelers facing catastrophe.

verb
(verb-object) to suffer a disasterto be robbed or hijacked

Examples

  • 遭劫。
    Nà sōu chuán zài hǎi shàng zāo jié le.
    That ship was hijacked at sea.
  • 。
    Tā zài lǚ tú zhōng zāo le yì chǎng jié.
    He suffered a catastrophe during his journey.
  • 遭劫。
    Zhè ge chéng shì lì shǐ shàng duō cì zāo jié.
    This city has suffered many disasters in history.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
动宾dòngbīnVerb + object

An action followed by what it acts on, fused into one word.

遭zāoencounter
劫jiédisaster

遭 means encounter, and 劫 means disaster, so it suffers disaster.

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
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.

Open 遭 →

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
力力lìpower, force
Sound part声符shēngfú
去
去qù劫jié
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

劫 pairs 去, which gives the sound, with 力, meaning power or force.

Open 劫 →

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