发育

• Pinyin: fā yù
• Hanzi breakdown: 发 = 弓 + 殳 — to emerge, unfold; 育 = 月/肉 (flesh) + 子 (child) — flesh giving birth to and nurturing a child, the process of biological development

Meaning

To grow and develop; to undergo physical or biological development. Refers to the process of an organism reaching its mature form through growth.

Used in medical, biological, educational, and parenting contexts. Covers physical development in children and adolescents (身体发育), embryonic development (胚胎发育), and the development of organs and tissues. Also used figuratively for the maturation of systems or capacities.

Examples

1. 充足的睡眠对儿童大脑的正常发育至关重要，长期睡眠不足可能导致认知功能和情绪调节能力的显著下降。 Adequate sleep is crucial for normal brain development in children, and long-term sleep deprivation can lead to a significant decline in cognitive function and emotional regulation.
2. 医生在体检后告知家长，这名十岁男孩的骨骼发育略微滞后，建议适当增加户外运动和钙质摄入。 After the checkup, the doctor told the parents that this ten-year-old boy’s bone development was slightly delayed and recommended increasing outdoor exercise and calcium intake appropriately.
3. 该地区儿童营养不良问题若得不到及时改善，将对他们的体格发育和智力潜能造成不可逆的长期损害。 If the problem of child malnutrition in this region isn’t addressed in time, it will cause irreversible long-term harm to their physical development and intellectual potential.

Usage Guide

Context: medical, parenting, biology, education

Tone: neutral

Do Say

• 青春期发育中的情绪波动和体形变化，通常属于正常现象。(Mood swings and body changes during puberty are usually normal aspects of development.)
• 胎儿神经系统发育在妊娠早期最敏感，孕妇应避免有害物质。(Fetal nervous-system development is most sensitive early in pregnancy, so pregnant women should avoid harmful substances.)

Don't Say

• 孩子发育了很快 — 发育 as a verb does not take 了 + 很快 in this structure; say 孩子发育得很快 or 孩子的发育速度很快 for correct phrasing

Origin & History

发 (to unfold/emerge) + 育 (to nurture/grow) — to unfold and grow through a nurturing process

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal