Show pageOld revisionsBacklinksBack to top This page is read only. You can view the source, but not change it. Ask your administrator if you think this is wrong. ====== qiǎohé: 巧合 - Coincidence, By Chance, Serendipity ====== ===== Quick Summary ===== * **Keywords:** qiǎohé, 巧合, coincidence in Chinese, serendipity in Chinese, by chance in Chinese, 巧合 meaning, what is qiaohe, Chinese word for fate, 偶然 vs 巧合, HSK 5 vocabulary. * **Summary:** Discover the meaning of **巧合 (qiǎohé)**, the Chinese word for a surprising or meaningful coincidence. This page breaks down its characters (巧 clever + 合 combine), explores its cultural connection to fate (**缘分 yuánfèn**), and shows you how to use it in everyday conversation. Learn the difference between **巧合 (qiǎohé)** and **偶然 (ǒurán)** and master this essential HSK 5 term to express amazement at life's unexpected connections. ===== Core Meaning ===== * **Pinyin (with tone marks):** qiǎo hé * **Part of Speech:** Noun / Adjective * **HSK Level:** 5 * **Concise Definition:** A coincidence; a concurrence of events that appears to be meaningfully or surprisingly aligned. * **In a Nutshell:** **巧合 (qiǎohé)** is more than just a random occurrence; it's the "Wow, what are the odds?!" feeling. It describes two or more unrelated things happening together in a way that feels neat, surprising, or even a little magical. While the English "coincidence" can be purely random, **巧合 (qiǎohé)** often carries a sense of wonder or the hint of a deeper, unseen connection. ===== Character Breakdown ===== * **巧 (qiǎo):** This character means skillful, clever, opportune, or timely. Think of something artfully done. It's the key to the word's feeling—the coincidence isn't just random, it's almost "cleverly" arranged. * **合 (hé):** This character means to combine, to join, to fit together, or to suit. It implies a coming together or a perfect match. * Together, **巧合 (qiǎohé)** literally means a "skillful coming together" or an "opportune fit." This beautifully captures the idea of events aligning in a perfect and surprising way, as if by a clever, invisible hand. ===== Cultural Context and Significance ===== In Western culture, a coincidence is often dismissed as pure, random chance. In Chinese culture, however, a **巧合 (qiǎohé)** can be seen as a small signpost pointing to a much deeper concept: **[[缘分]] (yuánfèn)**. **缘分 (yuánfèn)** is the idea of a binding force, fate, or destiny that connects people and events. It's the belief that meaningful encounters are not accidental but are predestined. A **巧合 (qiǎohé)**, therefore, is often interpreted not as a random fluke but as a manifestation of **缘分 (yuánfèn)** at work. For example, if two strangers from different countries discover they have the same rare book, a Westerner might say, "What a crazy coincidence!" and think no more of it. A Chinese person might say, “这真是个**巧合** (zhè zhēn shì ge qiǎohé)!” but feel it signifies a deeper connection—that they were meant to meet. This doesn't mean every **巧合** is seen as profound, but the possibility is always there, adding a layer of wonder to everyday life that the English word "coincidence" often lacks. ===== Practical Usage in Modern China ===== **巧合 (qiǎohé)** is a very common word used in both spoken and written Chinese to express surprise at an unexpected alignment of events. * **As a Noun:** It's most frequently used as a noun, often in the pattern "真是个巧合 (zhēn shì ge qiǎohé)" or "太巧合了 (tài qiǎohé le)." * //"What a coincidence!"// * //"It's too much of a coincidence!"// * **As an Adjective:** It can be used as an adjective to describe a situation. * //"This is a very coincidental matter." (这是一件很巧合的事。)// * **Connotation:** The connotation is typically neutral to positive, emphasizing surprise and wonder. It can occasionally be used with suspicion, implying that a coincidence is //too// perfect and therefore planned. For example: "You both arrived at the exact same time? This coincidence is a little strange." (你们俩在同一时间到？这个巧合有点奇怪。) ===== Example Sentences ===== * **Example 1:** * 我今天刚想到你，就在街上碰到你了，真是个**巧合**！ * Pinyin: Wǒ jīntiān gāng xiǎngdào nǐ, jiù zài jiē shàng pèngdào nǐ le, zhēn shì ge **qiǎohé**! * English: I was just thinking of you today, and then I ran into you on the street. What a coincidence! * Analysis: A classic and extremely common use of **巧合** to express surprise at an unexpected but welcome meeting. * **Example 2:** * 他们俩不仅同一天生日，还穿着一样的衣服，这也太**巧合**了吧！ * Pinyin: Tāmen liǎ bùjǐn tóng yī tiān shēngrì, hái chuānzhe yīyàng de yīfú, zhè yě tài **qiǎohé** le ba! * English: Not only do they share the same birthday, they're also wearing the same clothes. This is too much of a coincidence! * Analysis: The phrase "太...了 (tài...le)" is used here to emphasize the degree of the coincidence. It expresses a feeling of disbelief and amazement. * **Example 3:** * 故事里的很多情节都是基于**巧合**，不太现实。 * Pinyin: Gùshì lǐ de hěnduō qíngjié dōu shì jīyú **qiǎohé**, bú tài xiànshí. * English: A lot of the plot points in the story are based on coincidence, which isn't very realistic. * Analysis: Here, **巧合** is used in a neutral, descriptive sense to talk about a literary device. It can sometimes have a slightly negative connotation in this context, implying lazy writing. * **Example 4:** * 你觉得这只是一次**巧合**，还是有人在背后安排？ * Pinyin: Nǐ juédé zhè zhǐshì yī cì **qiǎohé**, háishì yǒurén zài bèihòu ānpái? * English: Do you think this is just a coincidence, or did someone arrange it behind the scenes? * Analysis: This example shows how **巧合** can be used in a suspicious context. The question contrasts coincidence with a deliberate plan. * **Example 5:** * 警察发现两个案件的相似之处不仅仅是**巧合**。 * Pinyin: Jǐngchá fāxiàn liǎng gè ànjiàn de xiāngsì zhī chù bùjǐn jǐn shì **qiǎohé**. * English: The police discovered that the similarities between the two cases were more than just a coincidence. * Analysis: This is a more formal usage, common in news reports or crime dramas. It implies a hidden connection that needs to be investigated. * **Example 6:** * 如果没有一系列的**巧合**，我们公司的这个项目不可能成功。 * Pinyin: Rúguǒ méiyǒu yī xìliè de **qiǎohé**, wǒmen gōngsī de zhège xiàngmù bù kěnéng chénggōng. * English: Without a series of coincidences, our company's project could not have succeeded. * Analysis: This highlights how a "series of coincidences" (一系列的巧合) can lead to a major outcome, framing them as fortunate events. * **Example 7:** * 他把自己的成功归因于努力，而不是**巧合**。 * Pinyin: Tā bǎ zìjǐ de chénggōng guīyīn yú nǔlì, ér búshì **qiǎohé**. * English: He attributes his success to hard work, not to coincidence. * Analysis: This sentence sets up a contrast between effort (**努力**) and chance (**巧合**), a common theme in discussions about success. * **Example 8:** * 我们在巴黎的同一个小咖啡馆相遇，这真是个浪漫的**巧合**。 * Pinyin: Wǒmen zài Bālí de tóng yī ge xiǎo kāfēiguǎn xiāngyù, zhè zhēn shì ge làngmàn de **qiǎohé**. * English: We met in the same little cafe in Paris, what a romantic coincidence. * Analysis: Adjectives like "romantic" (浪漫的) can be placed before **巧合** to describe the nature of the coincidence. * **Example 9:** * 这一切的**巧合**让我开始相信缘分了。 * Pinyin: Zhè yīqiè de **qiǎohé** ràng wǒ kāishǐ xiāngxìn yuánfèn le. * English: All of these coincidences are making me start to believe in fate (yuánfèn). * Analysis: This sentence explicitly links the event (**巧合**) to the underlying cultural concept (**缘分**), showing how they are connected in the Chinese worldview. * **Example 10:** * 这次升职纯属**巧合**，因为原来的经理突然辞职了。 * Pinyin: Zhè cì shēngzhí chún shǔ **qiǎohé**, yīnwèi yuánlái de jīnglǐ tūrán cízhí le. * English: This promotion was purely a coincidence, because the original manager suddenly resigned. * Analysis: "纯属 (chún shǔ)" means "purely" or "completely," and is often paired with **巧合** to emphasize that something was entirely due to chance and not merit or planning. ===== Nuances and Common Mistakes ===== The most common point of confusion for learners is the difference between **巧合 (qiǎohé)** and **[[偶然]] (ǒurán)**. * **巧合 (qiǎohé):** Implies a //surprising alignment of two or more events//. It has a "neat" or "skillful" feeling. It's about the surprising //intersection// of things. * Correct: 我和你在同一天出生，真是个**巧合**。 (You and I were born on the same day, what a coincidence.) -> Two events (your birth, my birth) align. * **偶然 (ǒurán):** Means "accidental," "by chance," or "fortuitous." It describes a //single event// that happened unexpectedly, without a specific plan. It's more about randomness. * Correct: 我**偶然**在街上发现了一家好吃的餐厅。(I accidentally discovered a delicious restaurant on the street.) -> A single, chance event. **Common Mistake:** Using **巧合** for a single, random event. * **Incorrect:** 我**巧合**地把钥匙忘在家里了。(I coincidentally forgot my keys at home.) * **Why it's wrong:** Forgetting your keys is a single, accidental event. There's no "skillful coming together" of two separate things. * **Correct:** 我**偶然**把钥匙忘在家里了。 (I accidentally forgot my keys at home.) OR 我不小心把钥匙忘在家里了。(I carelessly forgot my keys at home.) Think of it this way: a **巧合** needs at least two data points to form a surprising pattern. An **偶然** event only needs one. ===== Related Terms and Concepts ===== * **[[偶然]] (ǒurán):** Accidental, by chance. The more neutral, random counterpart to **巧合**. It lacks the "surprising fit" nuance. * **[[缘分]] (yuánfèn):** A key cultural concept of fate, destiny, or a predestined relationship. A **巧合** is often seen as a sign of **缘分**. * **[[碰巧]] (pèngqiǎo):** (Verb) To happen to; to chance to. Focuses on the action. "I happened to be there." (我碰巧在那里。) * **[[凑巧]] (còuqiǎo):** (Adverb/Adjective) Luckily; fortunately; by a happy coincidence. Very similar to **碰巧**, often implying a fortunate outcome. * **[[机缘巧合]] (jī yuán qiǎo hé):** A four-character idiom (chengyu) meaning "by a fortuitous combination of circumstances." A more formal and emphatic way to say **巧合**. * **[[天意]] (tiān yì):** The will of Heaven; Providence. A possible explanation for why a remarkable **巧合** occurred. * **[[不约而同]] (bù yuē ér tóng):** An idiom for "(of two or more people) to do or say the same thing without prior arrangement." Describes a specific type of social coincidence.