Chinese word

发作

Pronunciation

Pinyinfā zuò

Meaning

  • verbhave an attack

Example

我一紧张就会发作。wǒ yì jǐn zhāng jiù huì fā zuò

I have an attack whenever I get nervous.

Illustration for 发作 (have an attack)

More examples

他一运动头痛就会突然发作。tā yí yùn dòng tóu tòng jiù huì tū rán fā zuò

His headache suddenly comes on whenever he exercises.

Core concept

An inner condition suddenly breaks through and becomes visible, whether it is a bodily symptom or a burst of feeling.

Common phrases

  • 突然发作tū rán fā zuò

    suddenly have an attack

  • 一旦发作yí dàn fā zuò

    once an attack occurs

  • 开始发作kāi shǐ fā zuò

    start having an attack

Similar words

发病fā bìng: An illness suddenly begins, or its symptoms suddenly appear.
突发tū fā: Happening suddenly and without warning, often describing an event or problem.
爆发bào fā: Strong feelings or conflict suddenly erupt with great force.
发怒fā nù: Suddenly showing intense anger toward someone or something.

Definition in Chinese

用于表示疾病或症状在短时间内突然出现或加重，也可用于情绪的突然爆发。yòng yú biǎo shì jí bìng huò zhèng zhuàng zài duǎn shí jiān nèi tū rán chū xiàn huò jiā zhòng yě kě yòng yú qíng xù de tū rán bào fā

Word origin

发 (fā, "to break out") + 作 (zuò, "to act") gives the sense of an inner condition suddenly becoming active.

Usage tips

  • The verb describes something that happens to a person rather than an intentional act, so it suits a symptom or emotional outburst, not a planned display.

Other meanings

  • attacknoun

Opposites

Related words

  • 发作性fā zuò xìngparoxysmaladjective

Word lists with this word