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突发 (tū fā) — to occur suddenly

Definition

突发 means something happens suddenly and unexpectedly, without warning (accidents, fires, problems). 突发 often pairs with 事件 'event'; 爆发 is stronger and more intense, for eruptions of emotion, war, or conflict.

verb
to occur suddenly

Examples

  • 突发，。
    Zhè chǎng dà huǒ tū fā zài shēn yè, xiāo fáng duì hěn kuài gǎn dào.
    This big fire suddenly occurred late at night, and the fire brigade arrived quickly.
  • 突发，。
    Tā de xīn zàng bìng tū fā dé hěn wēi xiǎn, lì kè sòng qù le yī yuàn.
    His heart disease suddenly occurred very dangerously, and he was rushed to the hospital immediately.
  • 突发，。
    Wèn tí tū fā shí, wǒ men yí dìng yào bǎo chí lěng jìng.
    When problems occur suddenly, we must stay calm.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
偏正piānzhèngModifier + head

The first part narrows down the second: it says what kind of thing the head is.

突tūsudden
发fāoccur

突 conveys suddenness, and 发 means to occur, so the word means to happen abruptly.

Characters in this word

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

突 shows 犬 (dog) under 穴 (cave; den), as a dog suddenly coming out of a den.

Open 突 →

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
HSK 3.0 Level 6Change & Process

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