逢着

• Reading: ほうちゃく
• Romaji: hōchaku
• Kanji breakdown: 逢 (hō/a) — meet, encounter; 着 (chaku/tsuku) — arrive, reach, come to
• Pronunciation: /ho.ː.tɕa.kɯ/

Meaning

Encounter; meeting; running into. Describes unexpectedly meeting or coming across a person, situation, or problem.

Used as a verbal noun with する (逢着する). Carries a formal and literary register. Frequently used to describe running into an unexpected situation, difficulty, or contradiction rather than a person. Common collocations include 問題に逢着する (to encounter a problem) and 難局に逢着する (to run into a difficult situation). More elevated and written than 出会う (to meet).

Examples

1. 研究を進める中で、理論上の矛盾に逢着した。 In the course of the research, I encountered a theoretical contradiction.
2. 交渉の過程で予期しない壁に逢着し、チームは対応策を迫られた。 During the negotiations, the team ran into an unexpected obstacle and was pressed to find a response.
3. 旅の途中で、思いがけず旧友に逢着するという幸運に恵まれた。 During the journey, I was fortunate enough to unexpectedly encounter an old friend.

Usage Guide

Context: academic writing, literature, formal reports

Tone: neutral

Origin & History

Compound of 逢 (hō, meet, encounter) and 着 (chaku, arrive, come to). Together they describe the moment of arriving at or meeting something — an encounter that comes as if arrived at unexpectedly. More literary than everyday synonyms.

Cultural Context

Era: Modern

Generation: Adults

Social background: Educated