逅 (hòu) - to meet unexpectedly & to encounter by chance

逅Tone 4

hòu ｜ 9 strokes ｜ radical:

枫惠

逅 · hòu

to meet unexpectedly;

to encounter by chance

to meet unexpectedlyto encounter by chance

Usage highlights

chance encounterunexpected meetingencounter by chancefortuitous meetingcasual encounterunplanned meeting

Synonyms

  • 遇— to meet, encounter
  • 逢— to meet, come across
  • 邂逅— to meet by chance

Antonyms

  • 别— to part, separate
  • 离— to leave, depart

Usage & contexts

Examples

  • We met by chance on the street (邂逅相遇).
  • They had an unexpected encounter (邂逅相逢).
  • A chance meeting led to friendship (邂逅结缘).

Collocations

  • chance encounter(邂逅)
  • unexpected meeting(邂逅相遇)
  • encounter by chance(邂逅相逢)
  • fortuitous meeting(邂逅结缘)
  • casual encounter(邂逅之遇)
  • unplanned meeting(不期而逅)

Idioms

  • Meet by chance(邂逅相遇)
  • Encounter unexpectedly(邂逅相逢)
  • Chance meeting leading to fate(邂逅结缘)

Cultural background

FAQ
  • 逅 carries connotations of serendipity and fate in Chinese culture.
  • Often used in literary contexts to describe romantic or significant chance encounters.
  • The character is rarely used alone and typically appears in compound words, especially 邂逅.

FAQ