始发 (shǐ fā) — to start (a journey, circulation, or event); to originate

Definition

Used for the formal/official start of a transport service, publication, or event — e.g. a train departing, a magazine launching. More formal than 开始, which covers any general beginning.

to start (a journey, circulation, or event)to originate

Examples

  • 始发，。
    Zhè tàng liè chē cóng běi jīng shǐ fā, kāi wǎng shàng hǎi.
    This train departs from Beijing, heading to Shanghai.
  • 。
    Zhè běn zá zhì cóng xià yuè qǐ shǐ fā fā xíng.
    This magazine will start publication from next month.
  • 始发。
    Zhè cì huó dòng jiāng yú xià zhōu yī shǐ fā.
    This event will start next Monday.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
偏正piānzhèngModifier + head

The first part narrows down the second: it says what kind of thing the head is.

始shǐbeginning
发fādeparture

始 gives the sense of beginning, and 发 gives departure or issuing, so something starts moving or being sent out.

Characters in this word

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
女女nǚwoman
Sound part声符shēngfú
台
台tái始shǐ
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

始 is made of 女 (woman) and 台, which gives the sound.

Open 始 →

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 →

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