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发话 (fā huà) — to begin to speak; to start talking; to give oral orders or instructions; to speak angrily (at someone)

Definition

A formal verb meaning 'to speak up / to give orders.' Used for issuing instructions (e.g. from a leader) or speaking sternly — not casual conversation. Compare 说话 (everyday 'to speak/talk').

verb
to begin to speakto start talkingto give oral orders or instructionsto speak angrily (at someone)

Examples

  • 发话，。
    Tā gāng xiǎng fā huà, diàn huà jiù xiǎng le.
    He was just about to start speaking when the phone rang.
  • ，。
    Lǐng dǎo zài huì shàng fā le yì tōng huà, dà jiā dōu rèn zhēn tīng zhe.
    The leader gave a speech at the meeting; everyone listened carefully.
  • 发话，。
    Tā duì zhe xià shǔ dà shēng fā huà, xiǎn de hěn bú nài fán.
    He spoke angrily to his subordinates, looking very impatient.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
动宾dòngbīnVerb + object

An action followed by what it acts on, fused into one word.

发fāissue
话huàwords

发 (issue) and 话 (words) combine to mean to speak or give orders.

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 話; 话 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
言言yánword
Sound part声符shēngfú
𠯑
𠯑𠯑話huà
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

In the traditional form 話, 言 relates to words and 𠯑 gives the sound; the simplified 话 is a shorthand, so its right side is not that sound part.

Open 话 →
Appears in
Communication & Speech

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