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to meet; to encounter; to see
to have an accident; to have a bad experience
「遇う」 has another reading with different meanings.
道で偶然先生に遇った。
I happened to meet my teacher on the street.
思いがけず友人に遇えた。
I unexpectedly got to see a friend.
旅先で昔の同級生に遇って驚いた。
I was surprised to run into an old classmate while traveling.