开发

• Pinyin: kāi fā
• Hanzi breakdown: 开 = simplified from 開, meaning to open; 发 = simplified from 發, meaning to emit or develop

Meaning

To develop; to exploit; to open up for use. Refers to developing resources, products, land, or potential.

Used for developing new products, software, land, resources, or human potential. Common in business and technology: 开发软件 (develop software), 开发市场 (develop a market), 房地产开发 (real estate development). Also used for developing talents: 开发潜力 (develop potential).

Examples

1. 这家公司正在开发一款新产品。 This company is developing a new product.
2. 政府计划开发这片土地。 The government plans to develop this piece of land.
3. 他们在开发新的学习软件。 They are developing new learning software.

Usage Guide

Context: business, technology, development

Tone: professional

Do Say

• 我们需要开发新的市场。(We need to develop new markets.)
• 这个软件是他们团队开发的。(This software was developed by their team.)

Don't Say

• 我开发了我的中文。(Don't use 开发 for language skills — use 提高 or 发展. 开发 is for products, resources, and land.)

Origin & History

Compound of 开 (to open) and 发 (to emit, to develop). Together: 'to open up and develop' — to bring something new into productive use.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal