接触

• Pinyin: jiē chù
• Hanzi breakdown: 接 = 扌(hand) + 妾 (concubine, phonetic); 触 = 角 (horn) + 虫 (insect), depicting touching

Meaning

Contact; come into contact with; be exposed to.

Can mean physical contact, social interaction, or exposure to ideas, cultures, or information. 与人接触 means interacting with people. 接触新事物 means being exposed to new things. Also used in technical contexts like electrical contact.

Examples

1. 在工作中，她经常接触各种各样的客户。 At work, she often comes into contact with all kinds of clients.
2. 孩子应该多接触大自然，少看手机。 Children should have more contact with nature and spend less time on phones.
3. 这是我第一次接触中国传统音乐，感觉很新鲜。 This is my first time being exposed to traditional Chinese music — it feels very fresh.

Usage Guide

Context: work, social, learning, technical

Tone: neutral

Do Say

• 我想多接触不同的文化。(I want to be exposed to different cultures.)
• 你之前接触过这个软件吗？(Have you used this software before?)

Don't Say

• 我接触了那本书 (For simply reading/getting a book, use 看 or 拿到 — 接触 implies exposure or familiarization)

Origin & History

Compound of 接 (connect, receive) + 触 (touch), meaning to come into touch.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal