taa1 hoeng1 jyu6 gu3 zi1他鄉遇故知他乡遇故知

Jyutpingtaa1 hoeng1 jyu6 gu3 zi1

Yaletā hēung yuh gu jī

語句

Definition

To encounter an old friend or acquaintance in a foreign place.

colloquialpeopletravel

How it's used

This phrase is a classic idiom that carries a warm, nostalgic sentiment. While it is formal in origin, it is frequently used in casual conversation to express the pleasant surprise of encountering someone familiar while traveling or living away from home. It implies a sense of relief and shared connection that transcends the distance from one's roots.

Examples

喺hai2倫leon4敦deon1見gin3到dou2你，nei5真zan1係hai6他taa1鄉hoeng1遇jyu6故gu3知zi1呀。

Seeing you in London, it really feels like meeting an old friend in a foreign land.

nei5你dei6哋hai6係mai6咪taa1他hoeng1鄉jyu6遇gu3故zi1知，king1傾dak1得gam3咁hoi1開sam1心？

Are you two having such a good chat because you bumped into an old friend abroad?

Common phrases

taa1他hoeng1鄉jyu6遇gu3故zi1知，jan4人sang1生jat1一daai6大lok6樂si6事

Meeting an old friend in a foreign land is one of life's great joys.

Common mistake

Learners often mistake this for a simple way to say 'I met a friend.' It specifically carries the nuance of being in a foreign or unfamiliar location, so it sounds unnatural if used for meeting someone in your own hometown.