Chinese word

爆发

Pronunciation

Pinyinbào fā

Meaning

  • verberupt

Example

火山突然爆发了。huǒ shān tū rán bào fā le

The volcano suddenly erupted.

Illustration for 爆发 (erupt)

More examples

社会矛盾激化后，一些地区突然爆发冲突。shè huì máo dùn jī huà hòu yì xiē dì qū tū rán bào fā chōng tū

After social tensions intensified, conflicts suddenly broke out in some areas.

Core concept

A powerful force suddenly breaks out from a hidden or contained state into the open, in nature, events, or human reactions.

Common phrases

  • 爆发冲突bào fā chōng tū

    conflict erupts

  • 爆发疫情bào fā yì qíng

    an epidemic breaks out

  • 爆发情绪bào fā qíng xù

    emotions erupt

Similar words

发生fā shēng: To happen or come about as an event, change, or situation.
突发tū fā: To begin suddenly and without warning, especially as an event or symptom.
爆炸bào zhà: To rupture suddenly with a loud blast and possibly scatter fragments.
迸发bèng fā: To surge outward all at once as a strong feeling, force, or enthusiasm.

Definition in Chinese

用来表示情绪、怒气、笑声等突然强烈地显露或迸发，也可用于形容事态或灾害的突发性爆发。yòng lái biǎo shì qíng xù nù qì xiào shēng děng tū rán qiáng liè dì xiǎn lù huò bèng fā yě kě yòng yú xíng róng shì tài huò zāi hài de tū fā xìng bào fā

Word origin

爆 (bào, "explode") + 发 (fā, "emerge") forms a picture of force bursting outward, which extends from physical eruptions to sudden events and powerful feelings.

Usage tips

  • For everyday conversation, this verb makes anger, laughter, or conflict sound sudden and strong; it is not the usual choice for a feeling that grows little by little.

Other meanings

  • break outverb
  • spurt outverb

Opposites

Related words

  • 爆发性bào fā xìngexplosivenessnoun
  • 爆发期bào fā qīoutbreak periodnoun

Word lists with this word