Origin

This character combines the component for "road" or "path" (the walking radical on the left) with the sound hint 曹, which tells you roughly how to pronounce it. The idea of encountering or meeting someone grew from the image of paths crossing or people coming together on a road. When two people walk along their separate paths and their routes intersect, they naturally meet or encounter each other. Over time, the meaning expanded from this literal sense of paths crossing to the broader idea of meeting, joining together, or gathering.