发育
fāyū · HSK 7
grow
🌱 fā = send out, yù = nurture — sending out new growth
发 means to emit or send forth, 育 means to nurture or raise. Together they describe the body sending out growth — developing physically, like a child growing up.
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.'