碰见
pèng jiàn · HSK 2
to meet
💥👀 碰 (bump) + 见 (see) = bump into and see = run into someone
碰 pèng means to bump or collide; 见 jiàn means to see or meet. Together: you bump into someone and see them — an unexpected encounter. Compare 见面 (planned meet) vs 碰见 (accidental run-in).
碰 — stone 石 + together 並
A semantic-phonetic compound: 石 (stone) gives the meaning of hard objects striking, while 並 (bìng, 'together/side by side') hints at the sound and the idea of two things meeting. Originally describing stones knocking together, it broadened to mean 'bump into,' 'collide,' or 'encounter by chance.'
见 — eye 目 over legs 儿 (人)
见 (traditional 見) is a pictograph of a person 儿 with a large eye 目 on top, emphasizing the act of seeing. The original meaning 'to see' broadened over time to include 'to meet,' 'to perceive,' and 'view/opinion.' The simplified form 见 keeps the same structure in cursive shorthand.