<p>I like to think of 碰到 as the equivalent of the English <a href="http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/bumped_into">"bumped into"</a></p>

<p>And 遇到 as the English <a href="http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/come_across">"came across"</a> or <a href="http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/encountered">"encountered"</a>. </p>

<p>The later being more formal and first being more oral in both the English and Chinese.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2013-12-06T02:39:16.753Z
This is the most correct answer.
杨以轩
CC BY-SA 3.0
2012-01-05T03:04:15.103Z
2012-01-05T03:04:15.103Z
going
<p>I got the impression that 碰到 implies a more unexpected or accidental meeting than 遇到. I can't find any references to back that up, though. They both seem to imply some element of chance or unpredictability.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2012-01-05T06:37:24.353Z
2012-01-05T06:37:24.353Z
Don Kirkby
<p>In this case, they have the same meaning！</p>

<pre><code> 遇到大学同学了。


 碰到大学同学了。  
</code></pre>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2013-12-06T01:55:34.860Z
2013-12-06T01:55:34.860Z
Lily Yu
<p>Generally the same.</p>

<p>"碰" is more informal than "遇" when used followed by "到" or "见" to form "碰/遇到" and "碰/遇见"</p>

<p>Another difference is that "碰" is more 'physical' as a verb than "遇", E.g. </p>

<ul>
<li><p>"碰" is literally "touch", also with meaning "collide" as in "碰撞".</p></li>
<li><p>"遇" is more similar to "meet" as in "遇见" or "being through" as in "境遇".</p></li>
</ul>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2012-01-05T02:28:41.160Z
2012-01-05T02:28:41.160Z
Flake
<p>Both 遇到 and 碰到 can be translated to "come across/run into" in those sentences:</p>

<blockquote>
  <p>遇到大学同学了。</p>
  
  <p>碰到大学同学了。</p>
</blockquote>

<p>What's the difference between 遇到 and 碰到?</p>

<mandarin><expressions><synonyms>
What's the difference between 遇到 and 碰到?
# What's the difference between 遇到 and 碰到?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2012-01-05)

Both 遇到 and 碰到 can be translated to "come across/run into" in those sentences:

> 遇到大学同学了。
>
> 碰到大学同学了。

What's the difference between 遇到 and 碰到?

**Tags:** mandarin, expressions, synonyms


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## 4 answers

### Answer by username_5 on 2012-01-05. Score: 9 | Accepted answer

Generally the same.

"碰" is more informal than "遇" when used followed by "到" or "见" to form "碰/遇到" and "碰/遇见"

Another difference is that "碰" is more 'physical' as a verb than "遇", E.g.

* "碰" is literally "touch", also with meaning "collide" as in "碰撞".
* "遇" is more similar to "meet" as in "遇见" or "being through" as in "境遇".


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### Answer by username_1 on 2012-01-05. Score: 10

I like to think of 碰到 as the equivalent of the English ["bumped into"](http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/bumped_into)

And 遇到 as the English ["came across"](http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/come_across) or ["encountered"](http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/encountered).

The later being more formal and first being more oral in both the English and Chinese.

> **Comments:**
> **username_2**: This is the most correct answer.  

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### Answer by username_3 on 2012-01-05. Score: 1

I got the impression that 碰到 implies a more unexpected or accidental meeting than 遇到. I can't find any references to back that up, though. They both seem to imply some element of chance or unpredictability.


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### Answer by username_4 on 2013-12-06. Score: -2

In this case, they have the same meaning！
 遇到大学同学了。


 碰到大学同学了。


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