发
to send; to emit; to issue
fā
What does 发 mean?
发 (fā) is a high-frequency verb meaning 'to send out, emit, issue, or develop.' It covers any kind of outward release — sending a message (发短信 fā duǎnxìn), giving out salary (发工资 fā gōngzī), emitting light or sound (发光 fāguāng, 发出声音 fāchū shēngyīn), or developing a condition (发烧 fāshāo 'to run a fever').
Modern speakers use 发 constantly in the digital sense: 发微信 ('to send a WeChat'), 发邮件 ('to send an email'), 发朋友圈 ('to post to Moments'). Two things to watch: first, 发 is a different word from the noun 发 (fà, 'hair'), even though they share the simplified character; second, English uses many different verbs (send, emit, issue, hand out, post) where Chinese reuses 发, so the meaning is determined by what follows it.
Note: Note: the same character 发 is also read fà and means 'hair' (头发 tóufa). HSK 3's 发 is the verb fā.
Character breakdown
to send out, emit, issue (also fà for 'hair' in 头发)
Memory hook: Think of 发 as the 'outward arrow' verb — whatever follows it (message, light, fever, salary) is being pushed out from a source.
Example sentences
我刚给你发了一条短信。
Wǒ gāng gěi nǐ fā le yì tiáo duǎnxìn.
I just sent you a text message.
spoken
请你发邮件告诉我时间。
Qǐng nǐ fā yóujiàn gàosu wǒ shíjiān.
Please send me an email to let me know the time.
polite
公司每个月十号发工资。
Gōngsī měi ge yuè shí hào fā gōngzī.
The company pays wages on the 10th of every month.
neutral
他在朋友圈发了几张照片。
Tā zài Péngyǒuquān fā le jǐ zhāng zhàopiàn.
He posted a few photos to Moments.
spoken
外面的灯发出很亮的光。
Wàimiàn de dēng fāchū hěn liàng de guāng.
The lamp outside is giving off a very bright light.
written
Common phrases with 发
Synonyms
送 means 'to deliver / give as a gift / see someone off.' For physical delivery and gifts, use 送 (送花 'give flowers'). For sending messages, money, or emissions, use 发.
寄 specifically means 'to mail / post' (寄信 'mail a letter'). 发 is broader and covers digital messages and general issuance; 寄 is for postal mail and packages.
Don't confuse 发 with
Same character, different reading. 发 (fà) means 'hair' and appears in 头发 (tóufa) and 理发 (lǐfà 'haircut'). HSK 3's 发 is the verb fā ('to send / emit'). Context tells you which.
法 means 'law / method' (法律 'law,' 方法 'method'). Same pinyin family but different tone and meaning. Don't mix 发短信 ('send a text') with 法 ('law').
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