发作
fāzuò · HSK 7
break out
🌋 发 (send out) + 作 (act) = send out an act — an outburst erupts
When emotions 发 (launch outward) and 作 (spring into action), the combo is an eruption. Think of a volcano that SENDS OUT its built-up pressure in one dramatic ACT — a flare-up you can hear and feel.
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.'
作 — person radical 亻 + 乍
作 combines the person radical 亻 with 乍, which originally depicted a sudden action or making something. The character means 'to do, make, or create,' with 亻 indicating human activity and 乍 supplying the sound. Over time it broadened to cover works, deeds, and acting as something.