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March 24, 2026
遇yù(Yu4)
The character 遇 (yù) primarily means 'to meet' or 'to encounter.' It is commonly used in contexts where one comes across someone or something unexpectedly, or in the sense of having a chance encounter. This character can also imply the idea of receiving or treating someone in a particular way, emphasizing interpersonal interactions.
Strokes12Radical辶Frequency#3188DifficultyMedium
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, encountering someone unexpectedly can symbolize fate or destiny, often seen in stories and proverbs. For example, the concept of '缘分' (yuánfèn) relates to the idea of predestined relationships, where meeting someone can change one's life.
Memory Tip
Imagine a person standing at a crossroads (the character's radical '辶' represents movement) and suddenly running into an old friend. The '遇' looks like a person ('𠂇') meeting another ('遇') at a chance moment, helping you remember both its meaning of 'meeting' and its pronunciation 'yù.'
Meanings of 遇
yù(Yu4)
1to meet
2to encounter
Exercise 1 of 2
Listen & Choose the Meaning
Choose the correct answer:
About 遇
遇Simplified
12Strokes
辶Radical
动词dòngcíverb (v.)Part of Speech
#3188Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L4IntermediateTOCFLL4HSKKL2CEFRB1
Podcast: 遇
Podcast: 遇
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AI Study Notes for 遇
Quick Contrast
遭 (zāo) - use 遇 (yù) for a more neutral or positive encounter, while 遭 (zāo) conveys a negative or unfortunate experience.
Usage Notes
Be cautious with the tone when pronouncing '遇,' as it is pronounced with a falling tone (4th tone) in Mandarin. It often appears in phrases such as '遇到' (to encounter) and '相遇' (to meet each other). Avoid using it in overly formal contexts, as it is more suited to everyday conversations.
HSK Study Tips
Although 遇 is not specifically listed in the HSK levels, it is essential for learners at HSK 3 and above, where encountering new vocabulary in conversational contexts becomes common. Focus on its usage in phrases and collocations to enhance understanding and fluency.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 遇 with 见 (jiàn) and may incorrectly use them interchangeably. For example, saying '我遇他' (I met him) instead of '我见他' is incorrect in contexts where the meeting was planned.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 遇
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Phonosemantic compound. 辶 represents the meaning and 禺 represents the sound.
1The meaning half辶 carries the sense.
2The sound half禺 is there for the reading, not the meaning.
3The giveawaywalk
4On the record aspictophonetic.
Every clue here comes from the character's recorded structure — nothing is guessed.
Want the full history of 遇? Jason searches the paleographic record, weighs the competing accounts and judges the popular story.
Charged once for this character — everyone reads it afterwards.
Exercise 1 of 1
Character Formation Type
What type of character formation is 遇?
Decomposition of 遇
IDS Structure⿺辶禺
遇Full Character
=
辶chuo4
enclosing
禺ou3
inner
Exercise 1 of 2
Identify the Components
Which of these is a component of 遇?
How to say to meet in Chinese
“to meet” in Chinese is遇yù
The character 遇 (yù) primarily means 'to meet' or 'to encounter.' It is commonly used in contexts where one comes across someone or something unexpectedly, or in the sense of having a chance encounter. This character can also imply the idea of receiving or treating someone in a particular way, emphasizing interpersonal interactions.
When to use 遇
Be cautious with the tone when pronouncing '遇,' as it is pronounced with a falling tone (4th tone) in Mandarin. It often appears in phrases such as '遇到' (to encounter) and '相遇' (to meet each other). Avoid using it in overly formal contexts, as it is more suited to everyday conversations.
遇 or something close to it
遭 (zāo) - use 遇 (yù) for a more neutral or positive encounter, while 遭 (zāo) conveys a negative or unfortunate experience.
What learners get wrong
Learners often confuse 遇 with 见 (jiàn) and may incorrectly use them interchangeably. For example, saying '我遇他' (I met him) instead of '我见他' is incorrect in contexts where the meeting was planned.
Write 遇
遇
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Grammar Patterns of 遇
遇 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 8 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.
The couple met about two years ago and soon became firm friends.
7
这是我所遇到的最好的事情了。
zhè shì wǒ suǒ yù dào de zuì hǎo de shì qíng le。
It's the best thing that ever happened to me.
8
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.
9
他的车遭遇拦劫，随后他被4名持枪歹徒劫持。
tā de chē zāo yù lán jié， ， suí hòu tā4 bèi 4 míng chí qiāng dǎi tú。
His car was held up and he was abducted by four gunmen.
10
他们在大学偶遇，最后结了婚。
tā mén zài dà xué ǒu yù， ， zuì hòu jié le。
They had met by chance at university and finished up getting married.
Cultural Notes for 遇
💡Did you know?
'遇' can also relate to the concept of fate or chance in Chinese culture. Meeting someone by chance is often seen as a significant event, reflecting the belief in destiny.
Word Family of 遇
Words Containing This Character20
遇到yùdàoto meet
遇yùto meet
遇见yùjiànto meet遇見
遭遇zāoyùto meet with
机遇jīyùopportunity機遇
待遇dàiyùpay
相遇xiāngyùto meet
外遇extramarital affair
遇害to be murdered
遇难yùnànto perish遇難
偶遇a chance encounter
遇难者victim遇難者
境遇jìngyùcircumstance
礼遇courtesy禮遇
遇刺to be attacked by an assassin
遇险yùxiǎnto meet with danger遇險
奇遇happy encounter
随遇而安flexible隨遇而安
际遇luck際遇
不期而遇meet by chance
Exercise 1 of 4
Compound Meaning
What does 遇到 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 遇
Common phrases with 遇 include '遇到困难' which means 'to encounter difficulties' and '遇见' meaning 'to meet.' These phrases are useful for expressing various types of encounters in conversation.
Yes, 遇 is frequently used in everyday conversation in Chinese. It is applicable in various contexts, from casual meetings to discussing opportunities. Understanding its usage can enhance your conversational skills.
遇 (yù) means 'to encounter' or 'to meet.' It can also refer to the way one treats or receives someone. Additionally, it can imply an opportunity or chance in certain contexts.
You can use 遇 in sentences to express encounters or meetings. For example, '我遇见了我的老朋友' means 'I encountered my old friend.' It can also be used idiomatically to discuss opportunities, such as '我终于遇到了一个好机会' meaning 'I finally encountered a good opportunity.'
While both mean 'to meet,' 遇 implies a chance encounter, whereas 见 is more general and can refer to seeing someone intentionally.
Generally, 遇 is more common in spoken language. In formal writing, other words like '接见' (to meet officially) might be preferred.
No, 遇 can also refer to encountering situations or opportunities, such as '遇到困难' (to encounter difficulties).
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