发绿 (fā lǜ) — to turn green, to appear greenish

Definition

A descriptive verb meaning a surface naturally takes on a green color or tint (leaves, branches, a face from nausea). Often used in the 把/了 construction or with 过一次 for a single past occurrence.

verb
to turn greento appear greenish

Examples

  • ，发绿。
    Tā tīng dào zhè huà, liǎn dōu fā lǜ le.
    When he heard this, his face turned green.
  • 发绿，。
    Zhè ge shù zhī jīn nián méi fā lǜ, kě néng kū sǐ le.
    This branch hasn't turned green this year; it might have died.
  • ，。
    Tā de liǎn fā guò yí cì lǜ, hòu lái cái màn màn huī fù.
    Her face turned green once, and then slowly recovered.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
补充bǔchōngVerb + complement

An action followed by its result or direction.

发fābecome
绿lǜgreen

发 supplies becoming, 绿 supplies green, so the word means to turn green.

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 →

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

This origin belongs to the traditional form 綠; 绿 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
糸糸mì
Sound part声符shēngfú
彔
彔lù綠lù
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 綠 uses 糸 to show silk and 彔 for sound; the simplified 绿 is a later abbreviation, so its parts are not the original pieces.

Open 绿 →

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