发票
fā piào · HSK 4
invoice
🧾 发 (issue/send out) + 票 (ticket/slip) = an issued slip → invoice
发 means to issue or send out; 票 means ticket or slip (same 票 as in 机票 plane ticket, 门票 entry ticket). An issued slip of paper documenting a sale is an invoice or receipt.
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.'
票 — fire 火 (bottom) + 覀 (cover/west)
Originally written with 火 (fire) below 覀, depicting sparks or embers rising from a fire. The early meaning was 'flying sparks' or 'light, floating thing.' Over time it shifted to mean a slip of paper, ticket, or note — something light and easily passed around.