Skip to content
Start your Chinese Learning JourneyStart Now
碰见 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
碰见pèngjiànto run intoHSK 5, unknown, 17 strokes, rank #8005, Hard
碰见pèngjiànto meet (unexpectedly)HSK 5, unknown, 17 strokes, rank #8005, Hard
碰见pèngjiànto bump intoHSK 5, unknown, 17 strokes, rank #8005, Hard
pèngjiàn(peng4jian4)peng jian T4
  1. 1to run into
  2. 2to meet (unexpectedly)
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026

碰见(碰見)pèngjiàn(peng4jian4)

碰见 (pèngjiàn) means to encounter or meet someone unexpectedly. It is commonly used in casual contexts when you accidentally run into a friend or acquaintance, emphasizing the chance nature of the meeting.

Strokes17Frequency#8005DifficultyHard
Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, unexpected encounters are often seen as serendipitous and can lead to important social interactions or networking opportunities, reflecting the value placed on relationships.

Memory Tip

Think of 碰 as 'bump' (it resembles the action of bumping into something) and 见 as 'see' (you see someone when you bump into them). Imagine literally bumping into a friend on the street and both of you saying, 'Oh! I didn't expect to see you here!'

Meanings of 碰见

pèngjiàn(peng4jian4)
1to run into
2to meet (unexpectedly)
Exercise 1 of 2

By ear

Play it, then pick what 碰见 means.

About 碰见

碰见Simplified
碰見Traditional
17Strokes
—Radical
动词dòngcíverb (v.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L5ElementaryTOCFLL2HSKKL1CEFRA1

Podcast: 碰见

JasonAmy

Podcast: 碰见

Listen to Jason & Amy break down this word for you

AI Study Notes for 碰见

Quick Contrast

遇见 (yùjiàn) is used for a more intentional meeting or encounter, while 碰见 (pèngjiàn) emphasizes the unexpected nature of the meeting.

Usage Notes

Be mindful of the tone when using 碰见; the first character 碰 (pèng) can be confused with 朋 (péng) meaning 'friend' due to similar pronunciation. This phrase is informal; for formal contexts, one might use 遇见 (yùjiàn) instead. Common collocations include 碰见朋友 (pèngjiàn péngyou) for 'bumping into a friend.'

HSK Study Tips

This word is not specifically included in HSK levels but is relevant for learners around HSK 2-3 as it builds on basic vocabulary related to social interactions. Focus on its usage in everyday conversations and practice forming sentences with it.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 碰见 with 见面. For example, saying '我今天碰见了我的老师' (I encountered my teacher today) is incorrect if the meeting was planned; use 见面 instead. Remember, 碰见 is for chance encounters.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 碰见

Premium — Locked

AI tone practice

Pro

Drill the tone of 碰见 with AI-powered exercises, get instant feedback, and earn XP toward mastery. Interactive tone practice is part of Pro.

Tone drillsInstant feedback+5 XP
See plans to unlock

Jason Explains 碰见 to You

Let me explain 碰见 for you

Make it yours

Jason looks at what you watch and listen to, the checkpoints you have cleared, our lessons and what you have been exploring, and explains 碰见 through them.

Sign in free to make it personal. New accounts start with 300 AI credits.

How Well Do You Know 碰见?

Example

Learning Lab

Knowing 碰见 is seven skills, not one.

Its meaning, its character, its pinyin, its tone — hearing it, saying it, writing it. The Learning Lab measures each one from your own practice, on every word you study, so you see what you actually know rather than how much you have done.

  • MeaningFree
  • CharacterFree
  • PinyinFree
  • TonePro
  • ListeningPro
  • SpeakingPro
  • WritingPro
See the Learning Lab Three facets free · no card needed

Component Characters

碰pèngto touch; to meet with; to collide, to bump into
HSK 513 strokes石
View full entry
见jiànto see
HSK 14 strokes见
View full entry

How to say to run into in Chinese

“to run into” in Chinese is碰见pèngjiàn

碰见 (pèngjiàn) means to encounter or meet someone unexpectedly. It is commonly used in casual contexts when you accidentally run into a friend or acquaintance, emphasizing the chance nature of the meeting.

When to use 碰见

Be mindful of the tone when using 碰见; the first character 碰 (pèng) can be confused with 朋 (péng) meaning 'friend' due to similar pronunciation. This phrase is informal; for formal contexts, one might use 遇见 (yùjiàn) instead. Common collocations include 碰见朋友 (pèngjiàn péngyou) for 'bumping into a friend.'

碰见 or something close to it

遇见 (yùjiàn) is used for a more intentional meeting or encounter, while 碰见 (pèngjiàn) emphasizes the unexpected nature of the meeting.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 碰见 with 见面. For example, saying '我今天碰见了我的老师' (I encountered my teacher today) is incorrect if the meeting was planned; use 见面 instead. Remember, 碰见 is for chance encounters.

Write 碰见

碰
见

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

Write correctly 3 times to earn XP

Ask Jason

Have a question about 碰见?

Jason answers about this word at your level: example sentences, how it differs from similar words, and a way to remember it.

Sign in free to ask. New accounts start with 300 AI credits.

Frequently Asked Questions about 碰见

No, 碰见 specifically refers to unexpected encounters; for planned meetings, use 见面 (jiànmiàn).

Jason Recommends

Not sure what to learn after 碰见?

Jason picks three words from your level and explains why each one is worth your time next. It takes a free account so he knows what you already know.

A sample week, replayed. Every page you study lands here in the order you did it — your own replay starts with a free account.

See the Learning Lab