発覚する

• Reading: はっかくする
• Romaji: hakkaku suru
• Kanji breakdown: 発 (hatsu) — to emit, expose, start; 覚 (kaku) — to perceive, awaken, sense
• Pronunciation: /ha.kːa.kɯ.sɯ.ɾɯ/

Meaning

To be discovered; to come to light; to be found out. Used when something hidden or secret is exposed.

A する verb (Group 3). Almost always used for negative things being uncovered — crimes, fraud, affairs, mistakes. The subject is the hidden matter itself, not the person who discovers it. Common pattern: 不正が発覚する (fraud comes to light). Frequently seen in news reporting.

Examples

1. 会計の不正が内部調査で発覚した。 Financial misconduct was uncovered through an internal investigation.
2. 彼の嘘が発覚して、信頼を失った。 His lies came to light and he lost people's trust.
3. データの改ざんが発覚し、研究者は職を追われた。 The falsification of data came to light, and the researcher lost their job.

Usage Guide

Context: news, crime, scandal

Tone: revelatory

Origin & History

From Chinese 發覺. 発 means 'to emit/expose' and 覚 means 'to perceive/awaken.' Together: to be brought to awareness, to be exposed.

Cultural Context

Era: Modern

Generation: Adults

Social background: Universal