遇见
yù jiàn · HSK 4
to meet
👋 遇 = encounter + 见 = see; so 'encounter-see' = meet
遇 means to encounter or run into, and 见 means to see. Together they describe meeting someone, often by chance. The 'jiàn' in 见 also shows up in 再见 (goodbye, lit. 'see again').
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.'
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.