Chinese word

发现

Pronunciation

Pinyinfā xiàn

Meaning

  • verbnotice

Example

我刚发现手机不见了。wǒ gāng fā xiàn shǒu jī bú jiàn le

I just noticed that my phone was missing.

Illustration for 发现 (notice)

More examples

老师上课时发现学生不认真听讲。lǎo shī shàng kè shí fā xiàn xué shēng bú rèn zhēn tīng jiǎng

The teacher noticed that the students were not listening carefully during class.

Core concept

Attention brings a previously unnoticed thing, person, or change into clear awareness.

Common phrases

  • 发现问题fā xiàn wèn tí

    notice a problem

  • 发现错误fā xiàn cuò wù

    notice an error

Similar words

找到zhǎo dào: Locate a person, thing, or place that was being sought.
看到kàn dào: See a person or thing with the eyes and recognize its presence.
注意到zhù yì dào: Notice a small change or fact by paying close attention to what is seen or heard.
发觉fā jué: Gradually realize that a fact or feeling exists.

Definition in Chinese

通过观察、思考或比较注意到以前没有察觉的人、事或变化。tōng guò guān chá sī kǎo huò bǐ jiào zhù yì dào yǐ qián méi yǒu chá jué de rén shì huò biàn huà

Word origin

As a meaning-based compound, 发 (fā, "to send out") + 现 (xiàn, "to appear") presents knowledge as something that emerges into sight.

Usage tips

  • A physical object is not required after the verb; a mistake, change, pattern, or other fact can also fill that position.

Other meanings

  • discoververb
  • detectverb

Word lists with this word