meet vs. see

[hirashin]

Hello. I'm Hirashin. Long time no see.

I have a question again. Would someone help me?

(a) If you had gone there, you could have seen the player.
(b) If you had gone there, you could have met the player.

Do (a) and (b) have the same meaning?

Hirashin

 

[Half-n-Half]

There are certain situations where "see" implies you met a person but in this case without context it has the nuance of simply seeing them without actually meeting them. For instance, seeing them play at a baseball game.

 

[hirashin]

Thank you, Half-n-Half, for your help.

Hirashin

 

[ClarkH]

(a) could have the same meaning as (b), but (b) cannot have the same meaning as (a). Like Half-n-Half says, "see" may have different meanings, depending on the context. It could mean "meet". (b) is specific. (a)'s meaning depends on the context.