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发毛 (fā máo) — (colloquial) to be scared; to get goose bumps; (dialectal) to lose one's temper

Definition

Spoken/colloquial verb: 'to get scared' (feel frightened, hair standing on end) is the main meaning. Also a northern dialect sense: 'to fly off the handle, lose one's temper.'

verb
(colloquial) to be scaredto get goose bumps(dialectal) to lose one's temper

Examples

  • ，发毛。
    Tīng dào nà ge shēng yīn, tā xià dé fā máo le.
    He was so scared he got goose bumps when he heard that sound.
  • ，。
    Nǐ bié zài rě tā le, tā dōu fā guò máo le.
    Don't provoke him anymore; he's already lost his temper.
  • ，发毛。
    Yì zǒu jìn nà ge hēi wū zi, wǒ jiù fā máo.
    As soon as I walked into that dark room, I got scared.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
动宾dòngbīnVerb + object

An action followed by what it acts on, fused into one word.

发fāgrow
毛máohair

'发' means to grow or emit and '毛' means hair, like hair standing up from fear.

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 →

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

毛 is drawn as a feather or hair, with its strokes tracing the shape of the feather or hair.

Open 毛 →
Appears in
Emotions & Feelings

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