巡り合う

• Reading: めぐりあう
• Romaji: meguriau
• Kanji breakdown: 巡 (jun/megu) — to go around, to tour; 合 (gō/a) — to meet, to fit together
• Pronunciation: /me.ɡɯ.ɾi.a.ɯ/

Meaning

To meet by chance; to happen upon; to encounter someone or something through fate or coincidence.

A Group 1 (godan) verb. Expresses the idea of a fateful or fortuitous meeting — whether with a person, opportunity, or experience — that came about through the natural flow of life rather than deliberate effort. Carries a warm, reflective tone and is often used in romantic, literary, or life-retrospective contexts.

Examples

1. こんな素晴らしい師匠に巡り合えたのは幸運だ。 I'm lucky to have encountered such a wonderful mentor.
2. 旅先で偶然巡り合った人と今でも友人として付き合っている。 I still keep in touch with someone I happened to meet while traveling.
3. 人生でこれほど感動的な作品に巡り合うとは思わなかった。 I never expected to come across such a moving work of art in my lifetime.

Usage Guide

Context: relationships, travel, literature, life reflection

Tone: warm

Origin & History

Compound of 巡る (to go around, to travel) and 合う (to meet, to come together). The image is of two paths that wander through life and happen to cross at an unexpected moment.

Cultural Context

Era: Classical

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal