마주치다
The English phrase "come across" can be translated into Korean as 마주치다.
마주치다 is used when you encounter a person or an unexpected situation.
Meaning: find, usually by accident (verb)
What does it mean word for word?
The verb is a compound of 마주 (facing each other) and 치다 (to hit/strike), literally meaning to strike or encounter something face-to-face.
Which one should you use?
While 마주치다 is used for encountering people or situations, it is not typically used for finding a physical object by accident. In those cases, it is more common to use 발견하다 (to discover) or 우연히 찾다 (to find by chance).
How does it change in a sentence?
The past tense form of this verb is 마주쳤다.
Did you know?
- While 마주치다 describes an encounter, Korean has a specific word 인연 for the invisible thread of fate that causes two people to come across each other.
- The word 마주치다 can be used for eyes specifically. The phrase 눈이 마주치다 means to make eye contact, which is often viewed as more intimate or intense than in English.
- The verb 치다 in 마주치다 can also mean 'to play' a musical instrument or 'to pitch' a tent. In this context it describes the sudden impact of a visual encounter.
Examples in context
- 오늘 동료를 우연히 마주쳤습니다.Today, I came across my colleague coincidentally.
- 길에서 우연히 친구를 마주쳤어요.I happened to come across a friend on the street.
