Chinese word

打发

Pronunciation

Pinyindǎ fā

Meaning

  • verbkill time

Example

我用看书来打发时间。wǒ yòng kàn shū lái dǎ fā shí jiān

I kill time by reading books.

Illustration for 打发 (kill time)

More examples

主人怕吵，就把访客打发走。zhǔ rén pà chǎo jiù bǎ fǎng kè dǎ fā zǒu

The host disliked noise, so he sent the visitors away.

Core concept

Sends something onward: an easy activity moves idle time along, while a task sends a person away.

Common phrases

  • 把客人打发回去bǎ kè rén dǎ fā huí qù

    send the guests back

  • 把他打发走bǎ tā dǎ fā zǒu

    send him away

  • 打发时间dǎ fā shí jiān

    kill time

Similar words

消遣xiāo qiǎn: Take part in enjoyable activities to distract from an unwanted feeling.
消磨xiāo mó: Let time pass gradually while easing the feeling of boredom.
浪费làng fèi: Spend time on something that has no useful result.
度过dù guò: Go through a period of time in a stated condition or manner.

Definition in Chinese

通过看书、玩手机、聊天等轻松的活动把闲暇填满，从而让时间过去。tōng guò kàn shū wán shǒu jī liáo tiān děng qīng sōng de huó dòng bǎ xián xiá tián mǎn cóng ér ràng shí jiān guò qù

Word origin

The earlier sense of 打发 (dǎfā, "send someone off") supplies the link: an errand sends a person away, while a pastime sends an empty period onward.

Usage tips

  • Unlike English "occupy time", which can sound neutral or purposeful, this word often suggests an easy, low-stakes way of making waiting or free time pass.

Other meanings

  • drive awayverb
  • send on an errandverb

Opposites

  • 珍惜时间zhēn xī shí jiānvalue timeverb
  • 留住liú zhùkeep someone from leavingverb

Word lists with this word