发自 (fā zì) — to come from (the heart, one's inner self); to originate from (a place or feeling)

Definition

A formal/written verb meaning 'to come from' (a place, or a feeling in the heart). It collocates with abstract sources such as 内心, 肺腑, or 心底 to express sincere, deep feeling.

verb
to come from (the heart, one's inner self)to originate from (a place or feeling)

Examples

  • 发自。
    Zhè shì tā fā zì nèi xīn de wēi xiào.
    This is a smile that comes from the bottom of her heart.
  • 发自。
    Tā fā zì fèi fǔ de gǎn xiè ràng suǒ yǒu rén dōu hěn gǎn dòng.
    His heartfelt thanks moved everyone.
  • 发自，。
    Zhè tàng liè chē fā zì shàng hǎi zhàn, kāi wǎng běi jīng.
    This train departs from Shanghai Station and heads to Beijing.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
补充bǔchōngVerb + complement

An action followed by its result or direction.

发fāoriginate
自zìfrom

发 means originate, and 自 gives the source, together pointing to coming from somewhere.

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.

假借jiǎjièLater borrowed for its sound alone — the picture has nothing to do with today’s meaning.

自 originally drew a nose. It was borrowed purely for its sound to write 自, so the picture and the meaning are unrelated.

Open 自 →

Browse more HSK 7-9 words or search the full 43,000-word dictionary.