境遇
jìng yù · HSK 7
circumstance
🛤️ 境遇 = 境 boundary/situation + 遇 encounter = the situation you encounter
境 means a bounded area or state of affairs; 遇 means to meet or come across. Together they name the set of conditions a person runs into — their circumstances or lot in life.
遇 — 辶 (walk radical) + 禺 (phonetic, monkey)
遇 is a phono-semantic compound. The walking radical 辶 supplies the meaning of going or moving along a road, while 禺 (an old word depicting a monkey-like creature) provides the sound. Together they evoke encountering someone while traveling, giving the modern senses 'meet,' 'come across,' or 'treat.'