发现發現 fāxiàn — to discover, to find, to notice
fāxiàn (first tone, high and level)fa1xian4
Traditional: 發現
to discover, to find, to notice
HSK 3· HSK 1–4 (classic)Level 3· Three-band, nine-level standardverbnoun
Meanings
to discover, to find, to notice
To come to see something that was there all along. It usually takes a whole clause: 我发现他不在家. Searching and eventually locating something is 找到, not 发现.
verb
Example sentences
- 我发现他今天不太高兴。我發現他今天不太高興。Wǒ (third tone, dipping) fāxiàn (first tone, high and level) tā (first tone, high and level) jīntiān (first tone, high and level) bú (second tone, rising) tài (fourth tone, falling) gāoxìng. (first tone, high and level)···
I’ve noticed he isn’t very happy today.
- 到了机场我才发现护照没带。到了機場我才發現護照沒帶。Dàole (fourth tone, falling) jīchǎng (first tone, high and level) wǒ (third tone, dipping) cái (second tone, rising) fāxiàn (first tone, high and level) hùzhào (fourth tone, falling) méi (second tone, rising) dài. (fourth tone, falling)···
Only when I got to the airport did I realise I hadn’t brought my passport.
Common mistakes
Not quite我发现了我的手机。
Correct我找到了我的手机。
Recovering something you were looking for is 找到. 发现 is for coming upon what you did not know was there, or for noticing a fact.