1.
chance encounter; fateful meeting; serendipitous connection
An unexpected but significant encounter with a person, place, or thing, often implying a sense of destiny or fate. Has a romantic or poetic nuance, suggesting the meeting was meant to be.
素敵な巡り合いだった。
It was a wonderful encounter.
Usage
巡り合い carries a warm, positive, and somewhat poetic tone. It implies the encounter was not merely accidental but meaningful or even fated. Used for encounters with people, books, music, places, and other things that leave a lasting impact.
Common collocations
- 運命の巡り合い (fateful encounter)
- 素敵な巡り合い (a wonderful encounter)
- 巡り合いに感謝する (to be grateful for the encounter)
- ～との巡り合い (an encounter with ~)
Similar words
出会い (encounter, meeting) is the general, neutral term. 巡り合い adds a stronger sense of destiny, fate, and emotional significance. The verb form is 巡り合う.