发射

• Pinyin: fā shè
• Hanzi breakdown: 发 = to emit/send; 射 = to shoot

Meaning

To launch; to fire; to emit. Used for rockets, missiles, signals, or projectiles.

Technical term primarily used in aerospace, military, and physics contexts. Describes the action of propelling something outward with force, such as launching spacecraft or firing weapons.

Examples

1. 中国成功发射了一颗新的通信卫星。 China successfully launched a new communications satellite.
2. 火箭将在明天凌晨发射升空。 The rocket will launch into space early tomorrow morning.
3. 这种信号发射器的覆盖范围很广。 This signal transmitter has a very wide coverage range.

Usage Guide

Context: science, military, news

Tone: technical

Do Say

• 卫星发射成功了！(The satellite launch was successful!)
• 导弹发射基地在哪里？(Where is the missile launch base?)

Don't Say

• 发射一个球 (Don't use 发射 for throwing balls — use 扔 or 投; 发射 implies propulsion machinery or force)

Origin & History

Compound of 发 (to emit, send out) + 射 (to shoot), together describing the propulsion of projectiles or signals.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal