What does 发 mean in Chinese?

发 (fā) means "to send out; to show (one's feeling); to issue; to develop; to make a bundle of money; classifier for gunshots (rounds)" in Chinese. The new HSK exam tests it at HSK 3.

How do you pronounce 发?

发 is pronounced "fā" in Mandarin Chinese. The tone number is 1.

What HSK level is 发?

发 is an HSK 3 word on the new HSK exam syllabus. It is HSK 4 on the old exam, HSK 3 on the new one.

What words contain the character 发?

Common words with 发 include 并发 (to be complicated by), 假发 (wig), 传发 (to order sb to start on a journey), 充发 (to banish to penal servitude), 先发 (initial).

How do you write 发?

发 has 5 strokes. Its radical is 又. You can view the stroke order animation on our stroke order tool.

发 (fā), to send out

发

fā

to send out; to show (one's feeling); to issue; to develop

HSK 3 Was HSK 4verbclassifier5 strokes

Traditional: 發

Character Breakdown

A bow shooting — to send out, hair

Radical: 又 (no. 29)Strokes: 5Traditional: 發

View stroke order →

Definitions

(verb, classifier) to send out
to show (one's feeling)
to issue
to develop
to make a bundle of money
classifier for gunshots (rounds)

Example Sentences

我要发短信给他。

Wǒ yào fā duǎnxìn gěi tā

I want to send him a text message

Words Containing 发

Word	Pinyin	Meaning
并发	bìng fā	to be complicated by
假发	jiǎ fà	wig
传发	chuán fā	to order sb to start on a journey
充发	chōng fā	to banish to penal servitude
先发	xiān fā	initial

→

出场(chū chǎng)· to appear (on stage, in a show, in a photo etc)

→

下达(xià dá)· to transmit down (a chain of command)

→

不露声色(bù lù shēng sè)· not show one's feeling or intentions

→

Grammar Notes

For/To (给)HSK 2

Subject + 给 + Person + Verb + Object

No Matter What (不管)HSK 4

不管 + Question Word / A-not-A / 还是, Subject + 都/也 + Predicate

Otherwise (否则)HSK 4

Statement/Condition, 否则 + Negative Consequence

Consequently (于是)HSK 4

Situation/Cause，于是 + Result/Next Action

After All / On Earth (到底)HSK 4

Subject + 到底 + Verb/Question

Appears in these articles

HSK levels

New HSK exam: HSK 3
HSK 2.0: HSK 4
HSK Lord study list: HSK 2 list

发: HSK 4 on the old exam, HSK 3 on the new one. See where your old level lands

New exam levels follow the CLEC syllabus released 15 November 2025. The first official sitting is announced for 13 December 2026. HSK 7-9 is one advanced band.

On the new HSK 3 exam

Studying for HSK 3? Keep 发 with the rest of your level.

HSK Lord schedules your reviews so each character comes back right before you would forget it. Free to start, and it picks up where you are.

Start studying free The words new HSK 3 adds

Frequently Asked Questions

Reviewed by RJ Murray, Founder, HSK Lord.

发