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March 24, 2026
邂xiè(xie4)
The character 邂 (xiè) refers to an unexpected or chance meeting, often implying a sense of serendipity. It is commonly used in literary contexts and conveys a feeling of surprise and delight at encountering someone by chance.
Strokes16Radical辶Frequency#—DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note
In Chinese literature, chance encounters often symbolize destiny, and characters like 邂 are used to explore themes of fate. This aligns with the cultural belief in predestined relationships and encounters that are meant to happen.
Memory Tip
Imagine two friends, who haven’t seen each other in ages, suddenly bumping into each other at a crowded market. The character 邂 looks like a person (the top部分) meeting another (the bottom部分) in an unexpected way, which can help you remember its meaning and pronunciation.
Meanings of 邂
xiè(xie4)
1an unexpected meeting
2to meet unexpectedly
Exercise 1 of 2
Listen & Choose the Meaning
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About 邂
邂Simplified
16Strokes
辶Radical
动词dòngcíverb (v.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank
Podcast: 邂
Podcast: 邂
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AI Study Notes for 邂
Quick Contrast
邂 (xiè) vs 遇 (yù) — use 邂 for unexpected or serendipitous meetings, while 遇 refers to any encounter, planned or unplanned.
Memory Mnemonic
Imagine two friends, who haven’t seen each other in ages, suddenly bumping into each other at a crowded market. The character 邂 looks like a person (the top部分) meeting another (the bottom部分) in an unexpected way, which can help you remember its meaning and pronunciation.
Usage Notes
邂 is more formal and poetic than everyday terms for 'meet.' Be mindful of using it correctly in literary contexts rather than casual conversations. A common collocation is 邂逅 (xièhòu), meaning 'to have a chance encounter.'
HSK Study Tips
Though not in the HSK list, this character can enrich your vocabulary at higher levels. Focus on its literary context and how it relates to themes of fate and chance in Chinese literature, as these are common in advanced texts.
Cultural Note
In Chinese literature, chance encounters often symbolize destiny, and characters like 邂 are used to explore themes of fate. This aligns with the cultural belief in predestined relationships and encounters that are meant to happen.
Common Mistakes
Learners may confuse 邂 with more common terms for meeting like 见 (jiàn). For example, saying '我邂一个朋友' instead of '我见一个朋友' is incorrect. Remember, 邂 is used only for unexpected encounters.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 邂
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Cultural Notes for 邂
🏮Cultural insight
In Chinese literature, chance encounters often symbolize destiny, and characters like 邂 are used to explore themes of fate. This aligns with the cultural belief in predestined relationships and encounters that are meant to happen.
Word Family of 邂
Words Containing This Character2
邂逅to meet by chance
邂xièto meet unexpectedly
Exercise 1 of 2
Compound Meaning
What does 邂逅 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 邂
You can say '我在街上邂逅了一个老朋友' (Wǒ zài jiē shàng xièhòu le yīgè lǎo péngyǒu), meaning 'I unexpectedly met an old friend on the street.'
邂 is not commonly used in everyday conversation and is more suited for literary contexts.
见 (jiàn) simply means 'to see' or 'to meet' and is widely used in all contexts, while 邂 specifically refers to an unexpected meeting.
