触发 (chù fā) — to trigger, to spark (an event, reaction, mechanism); to detonate (by contact)

Definition

Used in technical and formal contexts for a cause that sets off a mechanism, event, or chain reaction (触发警报, 触发争论). It implies the cause is the final spark that activates something already primed, not a general 'cause' like 引起.

verb
to triggerto spark (an event, reaction, mechanism)to detonate (by contact)

Examples

  • 触发。
    Zhè ge àn niǔ huì chù fā jǐng bào xì tǒng.
    This button will trigger the alarm system.
  • 触发。
    Tā de fā yán chù fā le yì chǎng jī liè de zhēng lùn.
    His speech sparked a heated debate.
  • 触发。
    Dì léi xū yào zú gòu de yā lì cái néng chù fā.
    Landmines require sufficient pressure to detonate.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
补充bǔchōngVerb + complement

An action followed by its result or direction.

触chùtouch
发fāactivate

触 (touch) and 发 (activate) together mean to set off by contact.

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 觸; 触 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
角角jiǎo
Sound part声符shēngfú
蜀
蜀shǔ觸chù
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 觸 uses 角 for the meaning and 蜀 for the sound; the simplified 触 is a later shorthand.

Open 触 →

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 →

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