発生する

• Reading: はっせいする
• Romaji: hassei suru
• Kanji breakdown: 発 (hatsu) — to emit, release; 生 (sei) — to be born, arise
• Pronunciation: /has.seː.sɯ.ɾɯ/

Meaning

To occur; to arise; to break out. Describes the emergence of events, problems, or natural phenomena.

A する verb formed from the noun 発生 (occurrence/outbreak). Used for events that begin or emerge, often unexpectedly. Very common in news reports about accidents (事故が発生), natural disasters (地震が発生), and problems (問題が発生). Also used in biology for the development of organisms.

Examples

1. 昨夜、大きな事故が高速道路で発生した。 A major accident occurred on the highway last night.
2. 新しい問題が次々と発生している。 New problems keep arising one after another.
3. 大雨の影響で洪水が発生する可能性がある。 There is a possibility of flooding due to the heavy rain.

Usage Guide

Context: news, science, disaster reports

Tone: urgent

Origin & History

Compound of 発 (hatsu, to emit/release) and 生 (sei, to be born/arise). Together they mean something coming into being — released into existence.

Cultural Context

Era: Modern

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal