Definition

1. Verb:
   • To encounter by chance / to run into: To meet or see someone or something unexpectedly, without prior arrangement.
   • To catch sight of / to come upon: To suddenly notice or see something, often in a way that feels surprising or unplanned.

Usage Examples

• Verb:
  • Tôi bắt gặp bạn cũ giữa đường. (I ran into an old friend in the street.)
  • Cô ấy bắt gặp một quyển sách hay trong thư viện. (She came upon a good book in the library.)
  • Anh ấy vừa ngẩng lên thì bắt gặp đôi mắt đang nhìn mình. (He just raised his head and caught sight of a pair of eyes staring at him.)

Advanced Usage

• The word often carries a nuance of a brief, unexpected moment of discovery or recognition. It is not typically used for planned meetings or lengthy encounters.
• It can be used for both people and objects or scenes.

Variants and Related Words

• Gặp (v): To meet. This is the general term, while specifically implies chance.
• Tình cờ gặp (v): To meet by coincidence. A more explicit phrase for an accidental meeting.

Synonyms

• To run into: To meet someone unexpectedly.
• To come across: To find or encounter something by chance.
• To stumble upon: To discover something accidentally.

Related Idioms and Phrases

• Bắt gặp ánh mắt: To catch someone's eye / to meet someone's gaze.
  • Trong đám đông, tôi bắt gặp ánh mắt quen thuộc. (In the crowd, I caught a familiar gaze.)

verb

1. To run into, to surprise
   • bắt gặp bạn cũ giữa đường
     to run into an old friend in the street
   • vừa ngẩng lên thì bắt gặp đôi mắt đang nhìn mình
     he just raised his head to surprise two eyes staring at him