发 (fā) - Meaning, Stroke Order & Audio

发

fā[fa1]Tone 1

to send out, to issue, to develop, hair (when used in compound words like 头发)

HSK 2

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發

Multiple Readings (多音字):

Guru Deep Dive

English · to send out, to issue, to develop, hair (when used in compound words like 头发)

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Topology:Left-right

Strokes:5

Writing Balance Rule: The left side (弓 and 𠂉 components) should be compact, while the right side extends gracefully with a sweeping trailing stroke.

Simplification Logic: Simplified from 發 by merging and streamlining complex historical brush strokes into cleaner modern components.

1. Meaning

to send out, to issue, to distribute

to show or express feelingsto develop or expandto make a fortune or make moneyclassifier for gunshots or rounds

Verb / ClassifierNeutral#action#communication#finance#growth

Sample Usage

请帮我发这封邮件。
Qǐng bāng wǒ fā zhè fēng yóujiàn.
Please help me send this email.
他今年发财了。
Tā jīnnián fācái le.
He made a fortune this year.

2. Sound

/[fa⁵⁵]/Tone: 55

发

fāfa1

¯(55)

=fā

Initial Consonant

Type: Labiodental Fricative

Sounds like: f sound as in 'fish'

Unaspirated

Airflow Tactile Test: Continuous smooth friction.

Tongue & Mouth Position: Upper teeth touch the lower lip lightly, continuous fricative airflow.

Final Rhyme

Vowel Group: -a vowel group

Sounds like: ah sound as in 'father'

Mouth Shape Guide: Pronounce as standalone vowel 'ah'.

Common Learner Trap: Keep vowel quality steady across all 4 tone contours.

Tone

T1 (55)

5 → 5 (55)

1st Tone (High-Flat)

Tone Pitch & Cadence: Tone 1 is a high, level pitch that mimics a sustained musical note or a flat plateau.

👂

Listening trap: Beginners often mistake the flat high Tone 1 for Tone 4 if spoken too abruptly; ensure the pitch stays consistently high and does not drop.

👋

Physical Tone Gesture: Hold your hand flat at eye level and draw a straight, steady horizontal line from left to right, maintaining a high pitch without any rise or fall.

3. Writing

Topology: Left-right · Strokes: 5 strokes

Writing Balance Rule: The left side (弓 and 𠂉 components) should be compact, while the right side extends gracefully with a sweeping trailing stroke.

Simplification Logic: Simplified from 發 by merging and streamlining complex historical brush strokes into cleaner modern components.

4. Components

Radical 又 · Right Hand Radical (hand, again)

Semantic Clue (形旁): 又 (denotes action involving the hand)

Imagine using a hand (又) to bow an arrow or launch something forward, representing sending out or releasing.

弓 bow (weapon)
又 hand or action

Phonetic Family (形声字家族)

4· Phonetic Root: 发 (fā)

5. History

Liushu category: Phono-semantic (形声)

Origin: Originally depicted a bow shooting an arrow or releasing a projectile, which evolved to mean launching, sending, or issuing forth.

Semantic Evolution: From the physical act of shooting an arrow or launching a projectile, the meaning broadened to sending messages, issuing orders, manifesting feelings, and generating wealth.

In traditional Chinese culture, the character 發 is famously associated with prosperity (发财), making it popular during Chinese New Year greetings.

6. Sinosphere

🇯🇵

Kanji (Japanese)

On: ハツ (Hatsu) / ホツ (Hotsu) / Kun: は・発する (hassuru)

🇰🇷

Hanja (Korean)

발

7. Memory

Vivid Mnemonic Story

You use your hand (又) to pull back a bow (弓) and send (fā) an arrow flying straight through the high sky at Tone 1.

Phonetic Family (形声字家族)

拨

bōto poke, to dialReplaces the left side with hand radical (扌) for manual touching.

泼

pōto splashReplaces the left side with water radical (氵) for liquid action.

Lookalikes & Traps (形近字)

友(yǒu)

友 means 'friend' and lacks the left-side bow structure found in fā.

8. Mastery

Active Recall Challenge

老师今天给我们[___]了很多作业。

Clue: fā

Common Learner Pitfall

Confusing the simplified character 发 with 友 due to the similar right-side hand component (又).

Memory Prompts

Recognition: When you see the character 发, what is its primary verb meaning of sending out or issuing?

Production: How do you write the character for 'to send out / to issue' with pinyin fā?

发fāto send out, to issue, to develop, hair (when used in compound words like 头发)

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