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發 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
發fāto issue, to dispatch, to send out; hairzg, 12 strokes, radical 癶
fā(fa1)fa T1
  1. 1to issue, to dispatch, to send out; hair
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March 24, 2026

發fā(fa1)

The character 發 (fā) primarily means 'to issue' or 'to send out,' often used in contexts such as issuing a document or dispatching an order. It can also refer to 'hair,' particularly in phrases related to hair growth or styles. This dual meaning makes it versatile in both formal and informal settings.

Strokes12Radical癶
Cultural note

In Chinese culture, hair is often associated with vitality and youth, leading to expressions like 發財 (fācái, to get rich) where '發' symbolizes growth and prosperity. Hair, especially in the context of new beginnings, is significant during festivals like Chinese New Year.

Memory tip

Imagine a hair strand being sent out like a letter in the mail. The character 發 has a component that resembles hair (毛), linking it to its meaning of 'hair.' Envision a postman with hair flying as he runs to deliver your letters, helping you remember 'fā' means to send out.

Meanings of 發

fā(fa1)
1to issue, to dispatch, to send out; hair
Exercise 1 of 2

By ear

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About 發

發Simplified
12Strokes
癶Radical
状态词stative word (stat.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 發

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Podcast: 發

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AI study notes for 發

Quick Contrast

發 (fā) vs 發展 (fāzhǎn) — use 發 when referring specifically to issuing or sending out, while 發展 refers to development or growth in a broader sense.

Usage Notes

Be careful not to confuse 發 (fā) with 發音 (fāyīn), which means 'pronunciation.' It's commonly used in both spoken and written Mandarin, but in formal contexts, it’s often paired with other characters, such as 發布 (fābù, to publish) or 發現 (fāxiàn, to discover). Pay attention to the fourth tone, as mispronunciation can lead to confusion with different words.

HSK Study Tips

While 發 is not currently included in HSK levels, its related words like 發展 (fāzhǎn, to develop) and 發表 (fābiǎo, to express or issue) are useful for learners. Focus on practicing these collocations to build a broader vocabulary around the concept of 'issuing' or 'sending out'.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 發 (fā) with 發音 (fāyīn; pronunciation) or mispronounce it as the fourth tone, which changes its meaning completely. Always remember to use the first tone to refer to 'to issue' or 'to send out.'

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 發

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Etymology of 發

Formation typepictophonetic
六书 ClassificationPhono-semantic (形声字)~80-90% of characters
Explanation

Simplified form of both 發 (send out; to issue) and 髮 (hair). Derived from 犬 (dog), the bottom component of 髮.

Memory hint

bow

Semantic (meaning)弓
+
Phonetic (sound)癶
Learn more about Phono-semantic (形声字) characters
Exercise 1 of 1

Origin

發 = 弓 + 癶. What kind of character does that make it?

Decomposition of 發

IDS Structure⿱癶⿰弓殳
發Full character
=
癶bo1
top
弓Gong1
left
殳Shu1
right
Exercise 1 of 3

Parts

Which of these is part of 發?

How to say to issue, to dispatch, to send out; hair in Chinese

“to issue, to dispatch, to send out; hair” in Chinese is發fā

The character 發 (fā) primarily means 'to issue' or 'to send out,' often used in contexts such as issuing a document or dispatching an order. It can also refer to 'hair,' particularly in phrases related to hair growth or styles. This dual meaning makes it versatile in both formal and informal settings.

When to use 發

Be careful not to confuse 發 (fā) with 發音 (fāyīn), which means 'pronunciation.' It's commonly used in both spoken and written Mandarin, but in formal contexts, it’s often paired with other characters, such as 發布 (fābù, to publish) or 發現 (fāxiàn, to discover). Pay attention to the fourth tone, as mispronunciation can lead to confusion with different words.

發 or something close to it

發 (fā) vs 發展 (fāzhǎn) — use 發 when referring specifically to issuing or sending out, while 發展 refers to development or growth in a broader sense.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 發 (fā) with 發音 (fāyīn; pronunciation) or mispronounce it as the fourth tone, which changes its meaning completely. Always remember to use the first tone to refer to 'to issue' or 'to send out.'

Write 發

發

Practice writing 發 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.

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Word Family of 發

Words containing this character20
发生fāshēngto happen發生
发现fāxiànto find發現
发展fāzhǎngrowth發展
发fāto send out發
开发kāifāto develop開發
头发tóufahair (on the head)頭髮
发誓fāshìto vow發誓
发表fābiǎoto issue發表
出发chūfāto set off出發
发挥fāhuīto display發揮
转发to transmit轉發
发出fāchūto send out發出
发布fābùto release發佈
发行fāxíngto publish發行
发射fāshèto launch發射
发动fādòngto start發動
引发yǐnfāto lead to引發
发明fāmíngto invent發明
发型fàxínghairstyle髮型
沙发shāfāsofa (loanword)沙發
Exercise 1 of 4

Words with 發

What does 发生 mean?

Frequently asked questions about 發

發 (fā) means 'to issue' or 'to send out,' while 發展 (fāzhǎn) specifically means 'to develop.'

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