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首发 (shǒu fā) — to debut; to premiere (for a product, film, or creative work); to be first released; to launch for the first time

Definition

Verb meaning 'to debut / premiere / launch for the first time' — used for products, films, games, and other creative releases. Pairs with 首发日 ('launch day').

verb
to debutto premiere (for a product, film, or creative work)to be first releasedto launch for the first time

Examples

  • 首发。
    Zhè bù xīn diàn yǐng jiāng yú xià zhōu wǔ shǒu fā.
    This new movie will premiere next Friday.
  • 首发。
    Huá wéi zuó tiān shǒu fā le xīn kuǎn shǒu jī.
    Huawei launched its new phone yesterday.
  • 。
    Zhè kuǎn yóu xì zài shǒu fā rì jiù mài guāng le.
    This game sold out on its release day.

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.

首shǒufirst
发fārelease

首 as first and 发 as release combine to mean release for the first time.

Characters in this word

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

The shape comes from an old drawing of an animal's head, showing a long mouth and horns; the version with hair became 首.

Open 首 →

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 →
Appears in
Business & Commerce

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