Japanese word

発見

Pronunciation

Romajihakken

Meaning

  • noundiscovery

Example

新しい公園を発見しました。atara shi i kō en o hak ken shi ma shi ta

I discovered a new park.

Illustration for 発見 (discovery)

More examples

庭で面白い石を発見しました。niwa de omo shiro i ishi o hak ken shi ma shi ta

I discovered an interesting stone in the yard.

科学者の発見が、私たちの生活を変えました。ka gaku sha no hak ken ga watashi ta chi no sei katsu o ka e ma shi ta

A scientist's discovery changed our lives.

Core concept

Describes finding something that was previously unknown or unnoticed.

Common phrases

  • 新しい発見atara shi i hak ken

    new discovery

  • 発見を報告するhak ken o hō koku su ru

    report a discovery

  • 発見につながるhak ken ni tsu na ga ru

    lead to a discovery

Similar words

発覚hakkaku: The point at which a hidden fact, problem, or wrongdoing becomes known.

Definition in Japanese

それまで知られていなかった物事や、見落とされていた物事を見つけること。so re ma de shi ra re te i na ka tta mono goto ya mi o to sa re te i ta mono goto o mi tsu ke ru ko to

Word origin

The Sino-Japanese compound 発見 (hakken, "discovery") combines 発 (hatsu, "to emerge") and 見 (ken, "seeing"), expressing the idea of something coming into view and becoming known.

Usage tips

  • In everyday Japanese, 発見する (hakken suru) can describe finding an unnoticed place or object, not only making a major scientific discovery.

Opposites

  • 未発見mihakkenundiscoverednoun

Related words

  • 発見者hakkenshadiscoverernoun

Word lists with this word