发人深省 (fā rén shēn xǐng) — (idiom) to set people thinking; to call for dee…

Definition

A formal written idiom meaning 'thought-provoking' — used to praise a speech, article, or experience that prompts deep reflection.

idiom

to set people thinkingto call for deep thoughtthought-provoking

，发人深省。
Zhè piān wén zhāng xiě dé hěn shēn kè, zhēn shì fā rén shēn xǐng.
This article is very profound — truly thought-provoking.
，发人深省，。
Tā de huà suī rán jiǎn duǎn, dàn fā rén shēn xǐng, zhí dé fǎn fù sī kǎo.
His words were brief yet thought-provoking, worth pondering again and again.
发人深省，。
Zhè cì jīng lì ràng wǒ gǎn dào fā rén shēn xǐng, gǎi biàn le wǒ duì shēng huó de kàn fǎ.
This experience was very thought-provoking and changed my perspective on life.

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.

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

The shape of 人 shows a side view of a standing person, with an arm and a leg.

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

氵Written in full as水shuǐwater

Sound part声符shēngfú

𥥍

𥥍𥥍深shēn

The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

深 is built from 氵, the side form of 水 “water”, and 𥥍, which supplies the sound.

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

The upper part of 省 is a changed form of 生, which gave the sound, while the lower 目 is an eye; the picture showed looking closely or inspecting.

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