qiǎohé: 巧合 - Coincidence, By Chance, Serendipity

• Keywords: qiǎohé, 巧合, coincidence in Chinese, serendipity in Chinese, by chance in Chinese, 巧合 meaning, what is qiaohe, Chinese word for fate, 偶然 vs 巧合, HSK 5 vocabulary.
• Summary: Discover the meaning of 巧合 (qiǎohé), the Chinese word for a surprising or meaningful coincidence. This page breaks down its characters (巧 clever + 合 combine), explores its cultural connection to fate (缘分 yuánfèn), and shows you how to use it in everyday conversation. Learn the difference between 巧合 (qiǎohé) and 偶然 (ǒurán) and master this essential HSK 5 term to express amazement at life's unexpected connections.

• Pinyin (with tone marks): qiǎo hé
• Part of Speech: Noun / Adjective
• HSK Level: 5
• Concise Definition: A coincidence; a concurrence of events that appears to be meaningfully or surprisingly aligned.
• In a Nutshell: 巧合 (qiǎohé) is more than just a random occurrence; it's the “Wow, what are the odds?!” feeling. It describes two or more unrelated things happening together in a way that feels neat, surprising, or even a little magical. While the English “coincidence” can be purely random, 巧合 (qiǎohé) often carries a sense of wonder or the hint of a deeper, unseen connection.

• 巧 (qiǎo): This character means skillful, clever, opportune, or timely. Think of something artfully done. It's the key to the word's feeling—the coincidence isn't just random, it's almost “cleverly” arranged.
• 合 (hé): This character means to combine, to join, to fit together, or to suit. It implies a coming together or a perfect match.
• Together, 巧合 (qiǎohé) literally means a “skillful coming together” or an “opportune fit.” This beautifully captures the idea of events aligning in a perfect and surprising way, as if by a clever, invisible hand.

In Western culture, a coincidence is often dismissed as pure, random chance. In Chinese culture, however, a 巧合 (qiǎohé) can be seen as a small signpost pointing to a much deeper concept: 缘分 (yuánfèn). 缘分 (yuánfèn) is the idea of a binding force, fate, or destiny that connects people and events. It's the belief that meaningful encounters are not accidental but are predestined. A 巧合 (qiǎohé), therefore, is often interpreted not as a random fluke but as a manifestation of 缘分 (yuánfèn) at work. For example, if two strangers from different countries discover they have the same rare book, a Westerner might say, “What a crazy coincidence!” and think no more of it. A Chinese person might say, “这真是个巧合 (zhè zhēn shì ge qiǎohé)!” but feel it signifies a deeper connection—that they were meant to meet. This doesn't mean every 巧合 is seen as profound, but the possibility is always there, adding a layer of wonder to everyday life that the English word “coincidence” often lacks.

巧合 (qiǎohé) is a very common word used in both spoken and written Chinese to express surprise at an unexpected alignment of events.

• As a Noun: It's most frequently used as a noun, often in the pattern “真是个巧合 (zhēn shì ge qiǎohé)” or “太巧合了 (tài qiǎohé le).”
  • “What a coincidence!”
  • “It's too much of a coincidence!”
• As an Adjective: It can be used as an adjective to describe a situation.
  • “This is a very coincidental matter.” (这是一件很巧合的事。)
• Connotation: The connotation is typically neutral to positive, emphasizing surprise and wonder. It can occasionally be used with suspicion, implying that a coincidence is too perfect and therefore planned. For example: “You both arrived at the exact same time? This coincidence is a little strange.” (你们俩在同一时间到？这个巧合有点奇怪。)

• Example 1:
  • 我今天刚想到你，就在街上碰到你了，真是个巧合！
  • Pinyin: Wǒ jīntiān gāng xiǎngdào nǐ, jiù zài jiē shàng pèngdào nǐ le, zhēn shì ge qiǎohé!
  • English: I was just thinking of you today, and then I ran into you on the street. What a coincidence!
  • Analysis: A classic and extremely common use of 巧合 to express surprise at an unexpected but welcome meeting.
• Example 2:
  • 他们俩不仅同一天生日，还穿着一样的衣服，这也太巧合了吧！
  • Pinyin: Tāmen liǎ bùjǐn tóng yī tiān shēngrì, hái chuānzhe yīyàng de yīfú, zhè yě tài qiǎohé le ba!
  • English: Not only do they share the same birthday, they're also wearing the same clothes. This is too much of a coincidence!
  • Analysis: The phrase “太…了 (tài…le)” is used here to emphasize the degree of the coincidence. It expresses a feeling of disbelief and amazement.
• Example 3:
  • 故事里的很多情节都是基于巧合，不太现实。
  • Pinyin: Gùshì lǐ de hěnduō qíngjié dōu shì jīyú qiǎohé, bú tài xiànshí.
  • English: A lot of the plot points in the story are based on coincidence, which isn't very realistic.
  • Analysis: Here, 巧合 is used in a neutral, descriptive sense to talk about a literary device. It can sometimes have a slightly negative connotation in this context, implying lazy writing.
• Example 4:
  • 你觉得这只是一次巧合，还是有人在背后安排？
  • Pinyin: Nǐ juédé zhè zhǐshì yī cì qiǎohé, háishì yǒurén zài bèihòu ānpái?
  • English: Do you think this is just a coincidence, or did someone arrange it behind the scenes?
  • Analysis: This example shows how 巧合 can be used in a suspicious context. The question contrasts coincidence with a deliberate plan.
• Example 5:
  • 警察发现两个案件的相似之处不仅仅是巧合。
  • Pinyin: Jǐngchá fāxiàn liǎng gè ànjiàn de xiāngsì zhī chù bùjǐn jǐn shì qiǎohé.
  • English: The police discovered that the similarities between the two cases were more than just a coincidence.
  • Analysis: This is a more formal usage, common in news reports or crime dramas. It implies a hidden connection that needs to be investigated.
• Example 6:
  • 如果没有一系列的巧合，我们公司的这个项目不可能成功。
  • Pinyin: Rúguǒ méiyǒu yī xìliè de qiǎohé, wǒmen gōngsī de zhège xiàngmù bù kěnéng chénggōng.
  • English: Without a series of coincidences, our company's project could not have succeeded.
  • Analysis: This highlights how a “series of coincidences” (一系列的巧合) can lead to a major outcome, framing them as fortunate events.
• Example 7:
  • 他把自己的成功归因于努力，而不是巧合。
  • Pinyin: Tā bǎ zìjǐ de chénggōng guīyīn yú nǔlì, ér búshì qiǎohé.
  • English: He attributes his success to hard work, not to coincidence.
  • Analysis: This sentence sets up a contrast between effort (努力) and chance (巧合), a common theme in discussions about success.
• Example 8:
  • 我们在巴黎的同一个小咖啡馆相遇，这真是个浪漫的巧合。
  • Pinyin: Wǒmen zài Bālí de tóng yī ge xiǎo kāfēiguǎn xiāngyù, zhè zhēn shì ge làngmàn de qiǎohé.
  • English: We met in the same little cafe in Paris, what a romantic coincidence.
  • Analysis: Adjectives like “romantic” (浪漫的) can be placed before 巧合 to describe the nature of the coincidence.
• Example 9:
  • 这一切的巧合让我开始相信缘分了。
  • Pinyin: Zhè yīqiè de qiǎohé ràng wǒ kāishǐ xiāngxìn yuánfèn le.
  • English: All of these coincidences are making me start to believe in fate (yuánfèn).
  • Analysis: This sentence explicitly links the event (巧合) to the underlying cultural concept (缘分), showing how they are connected in the Chinese worldview.
• Example 10:
  • 这次升职纯属巧合，因为原来的经理突然辞职了。
  • Pinyin: Zhè cì shēngzhí chún shǔ qiǎohé, yīnwèi yuánlái de jīnglǐ tūrán cízhí le.
  • English: This promotion was purely a coincidence, because the original manager suddenly resigned.
  • Analysis: “纯属 (chún shǔ)” means “purely” or “completely,” and is often paired with 巧合 to emphasize that something was entirely due to chance and not merit or planning.

The most common point of confusion for learners is the difference between 巧合 (qiǎohé) and 偶然 (ǒurán).

• 巧合 (qiǎohé): Implies a surprising alignment of two or more events. It has a “neat” or “skillful” feeling. It's about the surprising intersection of things.
  • Correct: 我和你在同一天出生，真是个巧合。 (You and I were born on the same day, what a coincidence.) → Two events (your birth, my birth) align.
• 偶然 (ǒurán): Means “accidental,” “by chance,” or “fortuitous.” It describes a single event that happened unexpectedly, without a specific plan. It's more about randomness.
  • Correct: 我偶然在街上发现了一家好吃的餐厅。(I accidentally discovered a delicious restaurant on the street.) → A single, chance event.

Common Mistake: Using 巧合 for a single, random event.

• Incorrect: 我巧合地把钥匙忘在家里了。(I coincidentally forgot my keys at home.)
• Why it's wrong: Forgetting your keys is a single, accidental event. There's no “skillful coming together” of two separate things.
• Correct: 我偶然把钥匙忘在家里了。 (I accidentally forgot my keys at home.) OR 我不小心把钥匙忘在家里了。(I carelessly forgot my keys at home.)

Think of it this way: a 巧合 needs at least two data points to form a surprising pattern. An 偶然 event only needs one.

• 偶然 (ǒurán): Accidental, by chance. The more neutral, random counterpart to 巧合. It lacks the “surprising fit” nuance.
• 缘分 (yuánfèn): A key cultural concept of fate, destiny, or a predestined relationship. A 巧合 is often seen as a sign of 缘分.
• 碰巧 (pèngqiǎo): (Verb) To happen to; to chance to. Focuses on the action. “I happened to be there.” (我碰巧在那里。)
• 凑巧 (còuqiǎo): (Adverb/Adjective) Luckily; fortunately; by a happy coincidence. Very similar to 碰巧, often implying a fortunate outcome.
• 机缘巧合 (jī yuán qiǎo hé): A four-character idiom (chengyu) meaning “by a fortuitous combination of circumstances.” A more formal and emphatic way to say 巧合.
• 天意 (tiān yì): The will of Heaven; Providence. A possible explanation for why a remarkable 巧合 occurred.
• 不约而同 (bù yuē ér tóng): An idiom for “(of two or more people) to do or say the same thing without prior arrangement.” Describes a specific type of social coincidence.