(そうぐうしゃ)

そうぐうしゃ
noun
person who encounters; witness (to an event)
1. person who encounters (something); witness to an event
A person who has come across or experienced a particular event, incident, or phenomenon. Often used in contexts of accidents, disasters, unusual experiences, or encounters with wildlife.
(くま)遭遇者(そうぐうしゃ)()えている。
The number of people encountering bears is increasing.
事故(じこ)遭遇者(そうぐうしゃ)から証言(しょうげん)(あつ)めた。
Testimony was gathered from witnesses to the accident.
UFOの遭遇者(そうぐうしゃ)体験(たいけん)(かた)るドキュメンタリーが放送(ほうそう)された。
A documentary was broadcast in which UFO witnesses describe their experiences.

Composed of 遭遇(そうぐう) (encounter/meeting) and (しゃ) (person). The word 遭遇(そうぐう) typically implies an unexpected or chance encounter, so 遭遇者(そうぐうしゃ) often describes someone who has unexpectedly come across something noteworthy.

COMMON COLLOCATIONS:

  • 遭遇者(そうぐうしゃ)証言(しょうげん): testimony from witnesses
  • 遭遇者(そうぐうしゃ)体験談(たいけんだん): firsthand account of an encounter
  • 遭遇者(そうぐうしゃ)(かた)る: a witness recounts

SIMILAR WORDS:

  • 目撃者(もくげきしゃ): eyewitness — specifically someone who saw something happen
  • 被害者(ひがいしゃ): victim — someone who suffered harm
  • 当事者(とうじしゃ): person involved — a party in an event or dispute
  • 遭遇(そうぐう): encounter — the base verb-noun