TongTong
Sign in

喷发 (pēn fā) — to erupt; to spout; to gush

Definition

Refers to a sudden, forceful release — most commonly a volcanic eruption, but also used for hot springs, emotions, or anything that bursts out. Implies a short, powerful event rather than a steady flow.

verb
to eruptto spoutto gush

Examples

  • 喷发，。
    Huǒ shān pēn fā shí, yán jiāng cóng shān dǐng liú chū lái.
    When the volcano erupts, lava flows from the top.
  • 喷发，。
    Tā de fèn nù zhōng yú pēn fā chū lái, dà shēng hǎn jiào.
    His anger finally burst out, and he shouted loudly.
  • 喷发，。
    Wēn quán cóng dì xià pēn fā, xíng chéng měi lì de pēn quán.
    The hot spring gushes from underground, forming a beautiful fountain.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéCoordinate

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

喷pēnspout
发fāemit

喷 and 发 both express shooting out; 喷发 describes erupting.

Characters in this word

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 噴; 喷 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
口口kǒumouth
Sound part声符shēngfú
賁
賁bì噴pēn
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 噴 pairs 口, mouth, with 賁 for the sound; the simplified 喷 is a later shorthand.

Open 喷 →

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 →
Appears in
Geography & Landforms

Browse more HSK 7-9 words or search the full 43,000-word dictionary.