发
fā · HSK 2
to send out; to show (one's feeling)
📤 发 = to send out, distribute, issue, emit (mail, news, money)
Core sense: outward motion from a source. Used in 发送 (send), 发明 (invent = send forth understanding), 发烧 (emit fever). The simplified form 发 also covers 髮 (hair) in traditional script.
发 — simplified form of 發; from 癶 (two feet) + 弓 (bow) + 殳 (weapon)
The traditional form 發 depicted shooting an arrow from a bow, with 癶 showing outstretched feet and 弓 the bow, giving the core sense of 'send out, discharge.' From this came extended meanings like 'issue, emit, develop.' The modern simplified 发 also absorbed 髮 (hair), so it now covers both 'to send out' and 'hair.'