📖 Meaning
This idiom describes a situation where, despite a chance encounter or promising opportunity, things fail to come together as hoped. It conveys the frustration of an unexpected failure brought on by sheer bad luck rather than any lack of effort or ability.
📜 Origin Story
The phrase originates from the Han dynasty work 'Lun Heng' (论衡·定贤) by the philosopher Wang Chong. The original passage recounts the story of Jing Ke, whose plan was to enter the state of Qin and hold the King of Qin hostage, intending to bring him back alive to the state of Yan. However, by a stroke of ill fortune the plan went awry and Jing Ke was captured and killed by the Qin. Wang Chong used this episode to illustrate how even a well-conceived scheme can fail simply because luck does not favor the encounter.
💡 Example Usage
世事难料，纵有经世之才，若邂逅不偶，亦难有所成就。
The ways of the world are hard to predict; even one blessed with the talent to govern, should fortune fail to favor the encounter, will find it hard to accomplish anything.
🏷️ Category
➕ Similar Idioms
➖ Opposite Idioms
🔤 Quick Facts
- Chinese: 邂逅不偶
- Pinyin: xiè hòu bù ǒu
- Literal Translation: encounter by chance, not, coincide
- Category: Success
- Characters: 4