碰

• Pinyin: pèng
• Hanzi breakdown: 碰 = 石 (stone radical) + 並 (phonetic component)

Meaning

To touch; to bump into; to encounter. Describes physical contact or an accidental meeting.

Has both a physical meaning (to touch or bump) and a figurative meaning (to encounter or come across). Commonly used in combinations like 碰到 (encounter), 碰见 (meet by chance), and 碰壁 (hit a wall, meaning to meet with refusal).

Examples

1. 小心别碰到桌子。 Be careful not to bump into the table.
2. 请不要碰这个东西。 Please don't touch this thing.
3. 我的手碰了一下热水。 My hand touched the hot water briefly.

Usage Guide

Context: everyday, warnings, physical contact

Tone: neutral

Do Say

• 别碰，很烫！(Don't touch, it's hot!)
• 他不小心碰了我一下。(He accidentally bumped into me.)

Don't Say

• 不要用碰来表示故意触摸 (Don't use 碰 for deliberate touching — it implies accidental or brief contact; use 摸 for intentional touching)

Origin & History

Composed of 石 (stone radical) and 並 (side by side, phonetic). The stone radical suggests a hard collision or contact.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal