遭

zāo

曹 + 辶

Definitions

zāo (verb) to encounter; to meet with (usually misfortune)

zāo (noun) time; occasion; incident

Etymology

Phonosemantic compound. 辶 represents the meaning and 曹 represents the sound.

Semantic: 辶 Phonetic: 曹

About

遭 is a phonosemantic compound: the walking/movement radical 辶 on the left and bottom conveys the meaning, and 曹 on the right indicates the pronunciation. The character's basic sense is "to encounter" or "meet with", originally implying a chance meeting while on the move. Unlike neutral meeting words, though, 遭 is overwhelmingly used in negative contexts, it refers to experiencing disasters, suffering misfortunes, facing accidents, or meeting with severe, unexpected hardships that harm one's life or well-being.

Etymology Hide

Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)

Clerical Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)

Traditional Modern

Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

他遭遇了事故。

Tā zāoyù le shìgù.

He encountered an accident.

她遭受了痛苦。

Tā zāoshòu le tòngkǔ.

She suffered pain.

我们遭到了批评。

Wǒmen zāodào le pīpíng.

We were criticized.

这次灾害使很多人遭殃。

Zhè cì zāihài shǐ hěnduō rén zāoyāng.

This disaster caused many people to suffer.

公司在经济危机中遭受损失。

Gōngsī zài jīngjì wēijī zhōng zāoshòu sǔnshī.

The company suffered losses during the economic crisis.

他在旅途中遭遇了各种困难。

Tā zài lǚtú zhōng zāoyù le gèzhǒng kùnnán.

He encountered various difficulties during his journey.

由于政策变化，企业遭受了重大打击。

Yóuyú zhèngcè biànhuà, qǐyè zāoshòu le zhòngdà dǎjī.

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

在科学研究中，学者们时常遭遇无法预料的挑战，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.

Related Characters

Component: 曹

Component: 辶

遭