发还 (fā huán) — to return (something); to give back; to send back

Definition

发还 (fāhuán) is a formal, written verb meaning 'to officially return' something — typically money, documents, or property by authority. Usually used in official contexts (court, government, company).

verb
to return (something)to give backto send back

Examples

  • 发还。
    Fǎ yuàn jué dìng fā huán tā de cái chǎn.
    The court decided to return his property.
  • 发还。
    Qǐng bǎ zhè xiē wén jiàn fā huán gěi yuán lái de bù mén.
    Please send these documents back to the original department.
  • 发还。
    Gōng sī fā huán le yuán gōng de yā jīn.
    The company returned the employees' deposits.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
补充bǔchōngVerb + complement

An action followed by its result or direction.

发fāsend
还háiback

发 means send and 还 means back, so 发还 is to send something back.

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 還; 还 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
辵辵chuòwalk
Sound part声符shēngfú
睘
睘qióng還hái
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 還 pairs 辵 (walk) with 睘 as a sound part for 'go back; return'; the simplified 还 is a shorthand, and its parts are not the historical components.

Open 还 →

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