# 萍水相逢

píng shuǐ xiāng féng

Meet by chance as strangers

## Meaning & wording

**Literally:** Floating duckweed meets on the water

**Register:** Warm · literary

[People & connection](https://chinese-idioms.yudis.dev/idioms/topics/relationships)

## When to use it

Describe an accidental encounter without a prior relationship.

Usually chance meeting, not a planned first appointment.

## Understanding the expression

Duckweed drifts on water and may touch another piece without having followed the same route. The expression compares that chance contact to strangers meeting during travel or daily life. The encounter can be brief yet meaningful. It does not require that the people remain strangers forever; friendship may follow. The chance origin is the defining feature, so a carefully arranged introduction or scheduled consultation would not fit as naturally as an unexpected meeting.

## Examples

我们在火车上萍水相逢。

### Traditional Chinese

我們在火車上萍水相逢。

wǒ men zài huǒ chē shàng píng shuǐ xiāng féng 。

We met by chance on the train.

虽是萍水相逢，她仍主动帮忙。

### Traditional Chinese

雖是萍水相逢，她仍主動幫忙。

suī shì píng shuǐ xiāng féng ， tā réng zhǔ dòng bāng máng 。

Although we had just met by chance, she helped.

两人在雨中的咖啡馆萍水相逢。

### Traditional Chinese

兩人在雨中的咖啡館萍水相逢。

liǎng rén zài yǔ zhōng de kā fēi guǎn píng shuǐ xiāng féng 。

They happened to meet in a cafe during the rain.

那次萍水相逢后来成了长久友谊。

### Traditional Chinese

那次萍水相逢後來成了長久友誼。

nà cì píng shuǐ xiāng féng hòu lái chéng le cháng jiǔ yǒu yì 。

The chance meeting became a lasting friendship.

## Sources & reference checks

Original explanations and examples from Chinese Idioms Almanac. Source-checked October 6, 2026.

- [CC-CEDICT · forms & pronunciation](https://www.mdbg.net/chinese/dictionary?page=worddict&wdqb=%E8%90%8D%E6%B0%B4%E7%9B%B8%E9%80%A2)

- [Ministry of Education · 成語典](https://dict.idioms.moe.edu.tw/idiomView.jsp?ID=675&webMd=1&la=0)

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