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Chinese vocabulary · Beginner
How do you say "discover" in Chinese?
发现
fā xiàn
In Chinese, "discover" is 发现 (fā xiàn).
Listen to the pronunciation:
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Pronunciation
fā xiàn is voiced with "fā" held flat and high (first tone), then "xiàn" snapped down sharply (fourth tone).
Writing and usage
发现 is written using hanzi. It's a verb, part of the vocabulary taught in the Noun Town language learning game.
Example sentence
探险家们希望发现新的土地。
tàn xiǎn jiā men xī wàng fā xiàn xīn de tǔ dì 。
Explorers hope to discover new lands.
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How to remember 发现
Say "fā xiàn" and picture discover at the exact same moment — that snapshot is your anchor for the word.
Related words
Browse all Chinese words in the glossary.
Questions about 发现
How do you pronounce 发现?
fā xiàn is voiced with "fā" held flat and high (first tone), then "xiàn" snapped down sharply (fourth tone).
Is 发现 formal or casual?
发现 is a neutral, everyday word that works in both casual and polite speech.
How is 发现 used in Chinese?
发现 is used the same way as the equivalent English verb. For example: 探险家们希望发现新的土地。 (Explorers hope to discover new lands.).
Where can I practice Chinese words for free?
You can play free Chinese minigames in your browser on the Noun Town online games page, no sign-up required. Every word in the Chinese glossary also has native audio and an example sentence you can revisit any time.
"Discover" in other languages
Curated by Callan Ratcliffe
This word is part of the vocabulary taught in the Chinese language learning game Noun Town, where words are introduced through play rather than memorisation. Want to play the full game? Get Noun Town on Steam.
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