Skip to content
Start your Chinese Learning JourneyStart Now
遭到 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
遭到zāodàoto sufferHSK 6, unknown, 22 strokes, rank #3898, Hard
遭到zāodàoto meet with (sth unfortunate)HSK 6, unknown, 22 strokes, rank #3898, Hard
zāodào(zao1dao4)zao dao T1
  1. 1to suffer
  2. 2to meet with (sth unfortunate)
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026

遭到zāodào(zao1dao4)

遭到 means to experience or suffer from something negative or unfortunate. It is commonly used in contexts where someone encounters adverse situations, such as criticism, misfortune, or disaster.

Strokes22Frequency#3898DifficultyHard
Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, discussing misfortune is often done with caution, as it reflects on one's fate or destiny. The concept of '遭到' often ties into traditional beliefs about luck and misfortune in life.

Memory Tip

Think of '遭到' as 'zao' (sounds like 'saw') and 'dao' (sounds like 'down'). Imagine you saw something bad and it brought you down. The character '遭' has the radical for 'to suffer,' reinforcing the idea of experiencing something unpleasant.

Meanings of 遭到

zāodào(zao1dao4)
1to suffer
2to meet with (sth unfortunate)
Exercise 1 of 2

By ear

Play it, then pick what 遭到 means.

About 遭到

遭到Simplified
22Strokes
—Radical
动词dòngcíverb (v.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L6IntermediateHSKKL3CEFRC1

Podcast: 遭到

JasonAmy

Podcast: 遭到

Listen to Jason & Amy break down this word for you

AI Study Notes for 遭到

Quick Contrast

遭遇 (zāoyù) - use 遭到 when emphasizing the experience of suffering, while 遭遇 can imply a more neutral encounter with an event.

Usage Notes

This term is often used in a more serious context, so it’s best to avoid using it in casual conversations. Common collocations include '遭到攻击' (to suffer an attack) or '遭到误解' (to be misunderstood). Be careful with the tones; mispronouncing '遭' (zāo) instead of 'zāo' may confuse listeners.

HSK Study Tips

While '遭到' is not an HSK vocabulary term, it relates well to HSK 4 and 5 level words like '遭遇' (to encounter) and '困扰' (to be troubled). Students should focus on recognizing the context in which '遭到' is used to strengthen their understanding of negative experiences.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse '遭到' with '遭遇' (to encounter), which is broader and not always negative. For example, saying '我遭到好消息' (I suffered good news) is incorrect; it should be '我遭遇好消息' (I encountered good news).

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 遭到

Premium — Locked

AI tone practice

Pro

Drill the tone of 遭到 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 遭到 to You

Let me explain 遭到 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 遭到 through them.

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

How Well Do You Know 遭到?

Example

Learning Lab

Knowing 遭到 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

遭zāoto meet by chance (usually with misfortune)
14 strokes辶
View full entry
到dàoto (a place)
HSK 18 strokes刂
View full entry

How to say to suffer in Chinese

“to suffer” in Chinese is遭到zāodào

遭到 means to experience or suffer from something negative or unfortunate. It is commonly used in contexts where someone encounters adverse situations, such as criticism, misfortune, or disaster.

When to use 遭到

This term is often used in a more serious context, so it’s best to avoid using it in casual conversations. Common collocations include '遭到攻击' (to suffer an attack) or '遭到误解' (to be misunderstood). Be careful with the tones; mispronouncing '遭' (zāo) instead of 'zāo' may confuse listeners.

遭到 or something close to it

遭遇 (zāoyù) - use 遭到 when emphasizing the experience of suffering, while 遭遇 can imply a more neutral encounter with an event.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse '遭到' with '遭遇' (to encounter), which is broader and not always negative. For example, saying '我遭到好消息' (I suffered good news) is incorrect; it should be '我遭遇好消息' (I encountered good news).

Write 遭到

遭
到

Practice writing 遭到 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 遭到?

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 遭到

No, '遭到' specifically refers to experiencing negative or unfortunate situations.

Jason Recommends

Not sure what to learn after 遭到?

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