发动

• Pinyin: fā dòng
• Hanzi breakdown: 发 = simplified from 發, meaning to emit; 动 = simplified from 動, meaning to move

Meaning

To start; to launch; to mobilize. Used for starting an engine, launching a campaign, or mobilizing people.

Has both concrete and abstract uses. Concretely: 发动汽车 (start a car). Abstractly: 发动战争 (launch a war), 发动群众 (mobilize the masses). Implies initiating something that requires energy or collective action.

Examples

1. 天气太冷了，车子很难发动。 The weather is too cold, and the car is hard to start.
2. 老师发动全班同学一起打扫教室。 The teacher mobilized the whole class to clean the classroom together.
3. 他按了一下按钮，机器就发动了。 He pressed a button and the machine started.

Usage Guide

Context: driving, organizing, work

Tone: neutral

Do Say

• 请发动汽车，我们该出发了。(Please start the car, we should get going.)
• 校长发动了全校的捐款活动。(The principal launched a school-wide donation drive.)

Don't Say

• 我发动了电视 (For turning on electronics, use 打开 rather than 发动 — 发动 is for engines and campaigns, not appliances)

Origin & History

Compound of 发 (to send out, emit) and 动 (to move), meaning to set something into motion.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal