发财
fā cái · HSK 7
to get rich
💰 fā cái sounds like far-CAI — cash from far away rolling in
发 (fā) means send out or emit; 财 (cái) means wealth. Together: emit wealth, i.e. get rich. The classic New Year greeting 恭喜发财 wishes prosperity.
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.'