发酵
fā jiào · HSK 7
to ferment
🍺🫧 fā jiào = emit + yeast — to send out the bubbling process
发 (fā) means to emit or send out; 酵 (jiào) means yeast or leaven. Together: releasing the yeast action, i.e. fermentation. The 酉 radical in 酵 signals alcohol/brewing.
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.'