爆发
bàofā · HSK 6
burst/break out
🌋💥 爆 = explode + 发 = emit/issue; together: burst out
爆 (bào) means explode or burst, 发 (fā) means emit or send out. Combined, 爆发 literally reads as explosive emission — used for volcanoes erupting, wars breaking out, or laughter bursting forth.
爆 — fire 火 + 暴 (violent/sudden, phonetic)
A semantic-phonetic compound: 火 (fire) gives the meaning, while 暴 (sudden, violent) supplies the sound and reinforces the sense. Originally meant to burst or explode with fire, later extended to any sudden, forceful eruption like popping or bursting.
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.'