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发生 (fā shēng) — to happen, to occur

Definition

A neutral, general verb for events taking place (accidents, problems, changes). 爆发 is more intense — used for sudden, violent outbreaks like wars or emotions.

verb
to happento occur

Examples

  • 。
    Zhè jiàn shì fā shēng zài qù nián.
    This happened last year.
  • 发生，？
    Wèn tí yǐ jīng fā shēng le, wǒ men zěn me bàn?
    The problem has already occurred, what should we do?
  • 发生。
    Tū rán fā shēng le yí jiàn qí guài de shì qing.
    Suddenly a strange thing happened.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéCoordinate

Two parts of equal weight, alike or opposite in meaning, standing side by side.

发fāput forth
生shēngarise

发 means put forth and 生 means arise, together describing something coming into being or occurring.

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 →

Two or more meaningful parts placed together so that their meanings combine into a new one.

生 shows 屮 (a bud) above 一 (the ground), drawing a sprout coming up from the earth.

Open 生 →
Appears in
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