Meaning
遇到 means to meet or encounter someone or something, often by chance or unexpectedly. It can refer to meeting people, encountering problems, or coming across situations. The word combines 遇 (to meet) with the directional complement 到 (to arrive at), emphasizing the completion of the encountering action.
Usage
Native speakers use 遇到 in both casual and formal contexts to describe chance meetings or unexpected encounters. It's commonly used with 问题 (problems), 困难 (difficulties), or people's names. Unlike 见面 which suggests a planned meeting, 遇到 often implies randomness or unexpectedness.
Examples
- 01我昨天在超市遇到了老朋友。.I ran into an old friend at the supermarket yesterday.
- 02如果你遇到什么问题，随时给我打电话。, .If you encounter any problems, call me anytime.
Characters
Common collocations
- 遇到困难to encounter difficulties
- 遇到问题to run into problems
- 遇到麻烦to get into trouble
- 偶然遇到to meet by chance
Antonyms
Origin
遇 originally depicted meeting on a road (辵 movement radical + 禺 phonetic), while 到 shows a knife arriving at its target. Together they emphasize the completed action of encountering.