研发
yánfā · HSK 6
research and develop
🔬🧪 研 grind + 发 launch = grind away until you launch something new
研 originally meant polishing stone smooth — slow, methodical repetition. 发 means to emit or send forth. Together they capture the long grind that eventually launches a breakthrough.
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.'