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遭 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
遭zāoto meet by chance (usually with misfortune)v, 14 strokes, radical 辶, rank #3002, Hard
遭zāoclassifier for events: time, turn, incidentv, 14 strokes, radical 辶, rank #3002, Hard
遭zāoto meet, to encounter, to come acrossv, 14 strokes, radical 辶, rank #3002, Hard
zāo(zao1) T1
  1. 1to meet by chance (usually with misfortune)
  2. 2classifier for events: time, turn, incident
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March 24, 2026

遭zāo(zao1)

The character 遭 (zāo) primarily means to encounter something, often of an unfortunate nature. It is commonly used in contexts where someone meets with misfortune or negative events, making it synonymous with encountering difficulties or bad luck.

Strokes14Radical辶Frequency#3002DifficultyHard
Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, the concept of encountering misfortune is often discussed in the context of fate and destiny, with phrases like '遭遇不幸' (zāo yù bù xìng) reflecting a cultural belief in the unpredictability of life.

Memory Tip

Imagine a person walking down a road and suddenly遭 (zāo)ing a storm. The character's left side (辶) represents movement, while the right side (遭) suggests an event or encounter, reinforcing the idea of coming across something unexpected.

Meanings of 遭

zāo(zao1)
1to meet by chance (usually with misfortune)
2classifier for events: time, turn, incident
Exercise 1 of 2

Listen & Choose the Meaning

Choose the correct answer:

About 遭

遭Simplified
14Strokes
辶Radical
动词dòngcíverb (v.)Part of Speech
#3002Frequency Rank

Podcast: 遭

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Podcast: 遭

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AI Study Notes for 遭

Quick Contrast

遭 (zāo) vs 遇 (yù) — use 遭 when emphasizing misfortune, while 遇 is neutral and can refer to any encounter.

Memory Mnemonic

Imagine a person walking down a road and suddenly遭 (zāo)ing a storm. The character's left side (辶) represents movement, while the right side (遭) suggests an event or encounter, reinforcing the idea of coming across something unexpected.

Usage Notes

Be careful not to confuse 遭 (zāo) with similar-sounding words that have neutral or positive meanings. It's typically used in informal contexts to describe misfortune, often paired with descriptors like '遇到' (yù dào, to meet) to enhance the expression. Remember to use the correct tone – it can change the meaning.

HSK Study Tips

Though 遭 (zāo) is not classified under a specific HSK level, learners should focus on its use in phrases describing unfortunate encounters. Connecting it with words like '遇' (yù) will help reinforce understanding at the intermediate level.

Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, the concept of encountering misfortune is often discussed in the context of fate and destiny, with phrases like '遭遇不幸' (zāo yù bù xìng) reflecting a cultural belief in the unpredictability of life.

Common Mistakes

Learners often misuse 遭 in contexts that imply positive encounters, such as saying '我遭遇了好运' (Wǒ zāo yù le hǎo yùn, I encountered good luck), which should instead use '遇到' (yù dào).

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 遭

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Etymology of 遭

Formation Typepictophonetic
六书 ClassificationPhono-semantic (形声字)~80-90% of characters
Explanation

Phonosemantic compound. 辶 represents the meaning and 曹 represents the sound.

Memory Hint

walk

Semantic (meaning)辶
+
Phonetic (sound)曹
Learn more about Phono-semantic (形声字) characters
Exercise 1 of 1

Character Formation Type

What type of character formation is 遭?

Decomposition of 遭

IDS Structure⿺辶曹
遭Full Character
=
辶chuo4
enclosing
曹Cao2
inner
Exercise 1 of 2

Identify the Components

Which of these is a component of 遭?

Write 遭

遭

Practice writing 遭 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.

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Grammar Patterns of 遭

遭 functions as a verb — the action or state of the sentence. The Chinese order is Subject + Verb + Object (我吃饭). Negate it with 不 (habitual / future) or 没(有) (completed action). Add aspect markers like 了, 过, 着 directly after the verb. It carries 3 related meanings, each with its own usage notes below. The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.

Exercise 1 of 4

Complete the Sentence

面对____征服的悲惨命运，他们保持了乐观的态度。

They have maintained their optimism in the face of desolating subjugation.

Example Sentences for 遭 (10)

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1
面对遭征服的悲惨命运，他们保持了乐观的态度。

miàn duì zāo zhēng fú de bēi cǎn mìng yùn， ， tā mén bǎo chí le lè guān de tài。

They have maintained their optimism in the face of desolating subjugation.
2
传染病正在遭受洪灾的很多灾民中蔓延。

chuán rǎn bìng zhèng zài zāo shòu hóng zāi de hěn duō zāi mín zhōng màn yán。

Infectious diseases are spreading among many of the flood victims.
3
我觉得应为我们遭遇的问题负部分责任。

wǒ jué dé yīng wéi wǒ mén zāo yù de wèn tí fù bù fēn zé rèn。

I feel partly responsible for the problems we're in.
4
如果遭到了性骚扰，你应该采取行动。

rú guǒ zāo dào le xìng sāo rǎo， ， nǐ yīng gāi cǎi qǔ háng。

If you're sexually harassed, you ought to do something about it.
5
你将会无法忍受所遭遇的伪善和双重标准。

nǐ jiāng huì wú fǎ rěn shòu suǒ zāo yù de wěi shàn hé shuāng zhòng biāo zhǔn。

You'll have little patience with the hypocrisy and double standards you encounter.
6
刚出首都，总统无人护卫的汽车就遭到了伏击。

gāng chū shǒu dū， ， zǒng tǒng wú rén hù wèi de qì chē jiù zāo dào le fú。

The President's unescorted vehicle was ambushed just outside the capital.
7
英国铁路公司遭受了4,500万英镑的巨额损失后境况更加惨淡。

yīng guó tiě lù gōng sī zāo shòu le4,500 4,500 wàn yīng bàng de jù é sǔn shī hòu jìng kuàng gēng jiā cǎn。

The gloom deepened after a thumping £45m loss at British Rail.
8
这位精神病学家将她的一些问题成功地追溯到她童年时代遭受的严重创伤。

zhè wèi jīng shén bìng xué jiā jiāng tā de yī xiē wèn tí chéng gōng dì zhuī sù dào tā tóng nián shí dài zāo shòu de yán zhòng chuàng shāng。

The psychiatrist successfully traced some of her problems to severe childhood traumas.
9
这一遭遇实在让他满腔愤慨。

zhè yī zāo yù shí zài ràng tā mǎn qiāng fèn kǎi。

He is truly outraged about what's happened to him.
10
莱瑟戴尔头部一侧遭到响亮的一击。

lái sè dài ěr tóu bù yī cè zāo dào xiǎng liàng de yī jī。

Leatherdale was hit resoundingly on the side of the head.

Cultural Notes for 遭

🏮Cultural insight

In Chinese culture, the concept of encountering misfortune is often discussed in the context of fate and destiny, with phrases like '遭遇不幸' (zāo yù bù xìng) reflecting a cultural belief in the unpredictability of life.

Word Family of 遭

Words Containing This Character13
遭zāoto meet by chance (usually with misfortune)
遭到zāodàoto suffer
遭遇zāoyùto meet with
遭受zāoshòuto suffer
惨遭to suffer (defeat, death etc)慘遭
遭殃zāoyāngto suffer a calamity
免遭spared
周遭nearby
屡遭to suffer repeatedly屢遭
遭罪to endure
遭难to run into misfortune遭難
遭逢to encounter (sth unpleasant)
遭瘟to suffer from a plague
Exercise 1 of 4

Compound Meaning

What does 遭 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 遭

No, 遭 typically conveys negative experiences, particularly misfortunes.