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发明 (fā míng) — to invent; (noun) invention

Definition

发明 is 'to invent' — focused on creating something new, especially a device or process. Unlike 造 (build/manufacture), 发明 emphasizes novelty, not just making something.

verb
to invent
noun
invention
Measure word · 个

Examples

  • 。
    Ài dí shēng fā míng le diàn dēng.
    Edison invented the light bulb.
  • 发明。
    Zhè shì yí gè hěn shí yòng de fā míng.
    This is a very practical invention.
  • 发明。
    Zhōng guó gǔ dài sì dà fā míng duì shì jiè yǐng xiǎng hěn dà.
    The four great inventions of ancient China had a big impact on the world.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
补充bǔchōngVerb + complement

An action followed by its result or direction.

发fābring out
明míngclear

发 means bring out and 明 means clear, so the word means making something newly clear, hence invent.

Characters in this word

A drawing of the thing itself, worn down over three thousand years into a few strokes.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 發; 发 is its simplified writing.

The simplified 发 stands for more than one traditional character. In most words (爆发, 出发) it is 發; in others (理发, 头发) it is 髮.

The form 發, which 发 stands for in many words, was originally drawn as a bow firing an arrow.

Open 发 →

Two or more meaningful parts placed together so that their meanings combine into a new one.

明 combines 日 (sun) and 月 (moon), showing the sun just rising while the moon has not yet set, or two bright objects in the sky, to express brightness.

Open 明 →
Appears in
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