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March 24, 2026
遭遇zāoyù(zao1yu4)
遭遇 refers to the act of encountering or meeting with something, often of a challenging or negative nature. It is commonly used to describe adverse experiences or hardships that one faces in life, such as obstacles or unfortunate events.
Frequency#3944DifficultyHard
Cultural Note
In Chinese literature and folklore, themes of hardship and enduring trials are prevalent, making 遭遇 a term often found in stories that reflect on the human condition and resilience.
Memory Tip
Imagine a person (the character 遭) walking into a storm (the character 遇) unexpectedly. The storm symbolizes the bitter experiences one might encounter, helping you remember '遭遇' as a meeting with difficulties.
Meanings of 遭遇
zāoyù(zao1yu4)
1to meet with
2to encounter
Exercise 1 of 2
Listen & Choose the Meaning
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About 遭遇
遭遇Simplified
—Strokes
—Radical
名词míngcínoun (n.)Part of Speech
#3944Frequency Rank
HSK 2.0L6HSK 3.0L6IntermediateHSKKL3CEFRC1
Podcast: 遭遇
Podcast: 遭遇
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AI Study Notes for 遭遇
Quick Contrast
遭受 (zāoshòu) - use 遭遇 when emphasizing the encounter aspect of an experience, while 遭受 focuses more on the suffering or impact of that experience.
Memory Mnemonic
Imagine a person (the character 遭) walking into a storm (the character 遇) unexpectedly. The storm symbolizes the bitter experiences one might encounter, helping you remember '遭遇' as a meeting with difficulties.
Usage Notes
Be careful not to confuse 遭遇 with similar terms like 遇到, which can imply a more neutral or positive encounter. This word is typically used in more serious contexts, so it may not be suitable for casual conversations.
HSK Study Tips
As an HSK Level 6 word, 遭遇 connects well with other advanced vocabulary related to experiences and emotions. Focus on using it in sentences that express complex feelings about life events.
Cultural Note
In Chinese literature and folklore, themes of hardship and enduring trials are prevalent, making 遭遇 a term often found in stories that reflect on the human condition and resilience.
Common Mistakes
Learners often misuse 遭遇 in positive contexts, saying things like '我遇到一个好朋友 (I encountered a good friend)' instead of using 遇到 for positive encounters. Remember, 遭遇 is best reserved for negative or challenging experiences.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 遭遇
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Grammar Patterns of 遭遇
遭遇 functions as a noun — it names a person, place, thing, or concept. Place it as a subject before the verb (主+谓) or as an object after the verb (谓+宾). Most Chinese nouns require a measure word between the number and the noun (e.g. 一个/三本). It carries 3 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.
Exercise 1 of 4
Complete the Sentence
我觉得应为我们____的问题负部分责任。
I feel partly responsible for the problems we're in.
Example Sentences for 遭遇 (10)
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1
我觉得应为我们遭遇的问题负部分责任。
wǒ jué dé yīng wéi wǒ mén zāo yù de wèn tí fù bù fēn zé rèn。
I feel partly responsible for the problems we're in.
He pushed everyone full speed ahead until production hit a bottleneck.
7
遭遇海难的那对夫妻被两名渔夫救起。
zāo yù hǎi nán de nà duì fū qī bèi liǎng míng yú fū jiù qǐ。
The shipwrecked couple were rescued by two fishermen.
8
对那小孩讲述的遭遇，老师啧啧地表示同情。
duì nà xiǎo hái jiǎng shù de zāo yù， ， lǎo shī zé zé dì biǎo shì tóng。
The teacher clucked sympathetically at the child's story.
9
她经常跳舞的赌场遭遇了相似的命运。
tā jīng cháng tiào wǔ de dǔ cháng zāo yù le xiāng sì de mìng yùn。
The Casino, where she had often danced, had suffered a similar fate.
10
他担心他们发起的大变革会遭遇失败。
tā dān xīn tā mén fā qǐ de dà biàn gé huì zāo yù shī bài。
He was afraid the revolution they had started would fail.
Cultural Notes for 遭遇
🏮Cultural insight
In Chinese literature and folklore, themes of hardship and enduring trials are prevalent, making 遭遇 a term often found in stories that reflect on the human condition and resilience.
Frequently Asked Questions about 遭遇
遭遇 usually refers to encountering something negative or challenging, while 遇到 can refer to any encounter, positive or negative.
Yes, 遭遇 is often used in formal writing and discussions, especially when discussing serious topics.
Yes, synonyms include 经历 (jīnglì) which means 'experience,' though it may not carry the same negative connotation.
