Definitions

zāo (verb) to encounter; to meet with (usually misfortune)
zāo (noun) time; occasion; incident

Etymology

Phonosemantic compound. represents the meaning and represents the sound.

Semantic: Phonetic:

About

The character 遭 is structurally formed by the movement radical 辶 alongside the component 曹, which primarily provides phonetic guidance but also implies a sense of gathering or sequence, etymologically suggesting a meeting during a journey. Initially denoting a general encounter or experience, often by chance, its usage in classical literature covered a range of meetings without inherent negative value. Over time, however, its application narrowed to emphasize specifically unfavorable or distressing encounters, which led to its predominant modern meaning of undergoing hardship or misfortune, a semantic refinement that strengthened its connection to adverse events while preserving its core idea of an unforeseen intersection.

Etymology Hide

Seal etymology image
Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)
Clerical etymology image
Clerical Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)
Clerical etymology image
Clerical Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)
Clerical etymology image
Clerical Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)
Traditional Modern
Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

遇了事故。

Tā zāoyù le shìgù.

He encountered an accident.

受了痛苦。

Tā zāoshòu le tòngkǔ.

She suffered pain.

我们到了批评。

Wǒmen zāodào le pīpíng.

We were criticized.

这次灾害使很多人殃。

Zhè cì zāihài shǐ hěnduō rén zāoyāng.

This disaster caused many people to suffer.

公司在经济危机中受损失。

Gōngsī zài jīngjì wēijī zhōng zāoshòu sǔnshī.

The company suffered losses during the economic crisis.

他在旅途中遇了各种困难。

Tā zài lǚtú zhōng zāoyù le gèzhǒng kùnnán.

He encountered various difficulties during his journey.

由于政策变化,企业受了重大打击。

Yóuyú zhèngcè biànhuà, qǐyè zāoshòu le zhòngdà dǎjī.

Due to policy changes, the enterprise suffered a major blow.

在科学研究中,学者们时常遇无法预料的挑战,这需要他们具备应变能力。

Zài kēxué yánjiū zhōng, xuézhě men shícháng zāoyù wúfǎ yùliào de tiǎozhàn, zhè xūyào tāmen jùbèi yìngbiàn nénglì.

In scientific research, scholars often encounter unpredictable challenges, which require them to have adaptability.