发动

fā dòng

to start

HSK 6

한자 분해

Usage and Nuances

The verb "发动" (fā dòng) primarily means "to start" or "to launch". It is commonly used for starting engines or machines, such as cars or industrial equipment. Beyond literal starting, it also refers to initiating actions or campaigns, especially those involving collective effort or social movements.

Common Collocations

These collocations show that "发动" often implies an active, deliberate initiation of something significant.

Register and Tone

"发动" is neutral in tone and suitable for both formal and informal contexts. It is more formal than simply saying "开始" (kāishǐ) when referring to starting machines or organized actions.

Common Confusion

Do not confuse "发动" with "发生" (fāshēng), which means "to happen" or "to occur". "发动" emphasizes the initiation by an agent, while "发生" is more about events occurring naturally or passively.

예문

汽车发动后,我们就出发了。

Qìchē fādòng hòu, wǒmen jiù chūfā le.

After the car started, we set off.

他发动了一场关于环保的运动。

Tā fādòng le yī chǎng guānyú huánbǎo de yùndòng.

He launched a campaign about environmental protection.

发动机器前,请先检查安全措施。

Fādòng jīqì qián, qǐng xiān jiǎnchá ānquán cuòshī.

Before starting the machine, please check the safety measures first.