HSK · Level 44
120 words
Chinese word
发明
Pronunciation
Pinyinfā míng
Meaning
- verbinvent
Example
他发明了一种新的节能灯。tā fā míng le yì zhǒng xīn de jié néng dēng
He invented a new energy-saving light bulb.
More examples
很多公司投资研发，希望能发明新产品。hěn duō gōng sī tóu zī yán fā xī wàng néng fā míng xīn chán pǐn
Many companies invest in research and development, hoping to invent new products.
Core concept
A new idea takes shape as a real device, method, or other workable result.
Common phrases
发明新技术fā míng xīn jì shù
invent new technology
发明新产品fā míng xīn chán pǐn
invent new products
发明方法fā míng fāng fǎ
devise a method
Similar words
创造chuàng zào: To bring a completely new idea or thing into existence.
发现fā xiàn: To find something that people did not know about before.
设计shè jì: To plan and draw how something should look, work, or be used.
制造zhì zào: To make finished products by putting materials or parts together.
Definition in Chinese
想出并创造出以前没有的东西或办法，强调从构思到实现并使之显现的整个过程。xiǎng chū bìng chuàng zào chū yǐ qián méi yǒu de dōng xī huò bàn fǎ qiáng diào cóng gòu sī dào shí xiàn bìng shǐ zhī xiǎn xiàn de zhěng gè guò chéng
Word origin
发明 (fāmíng, "invent") joins 发 (fā, "bring forth") with 明 (míng, "clear or bright"), suggesting that a new idea is brought out and made apparent in the world.
Usage tips
- A useful English distinction is that a fact or natural law is usually discovered, while a newly made device or method is invented; this Chinese verb follows the latter pattern.
Other meanings
- createverb
- deviseverb
Opposites
- 发现fā xiàndiscoververb
Related words
- 发明家fā míng jiāinventornoun
- 发明者fā míng zhěinventornoun
- 发明专利fā míng zhuān lìinvention patentnoun