发展 (fāzhǎn)

发展 means to develop or describes development, covering growth and progress of economies, skills, relationships, or ideas.

Meanings

[verb] to develop, grow, or expand
[noun] development, growth, or progress

Example Sentences

中国的经济发展速度令世界惊叹。 Zhōngguó de jīngjì fāzhǎn sùdù lìng shìjiè jīngtàn. China's speed of economic development is astonishing to the world.

他的中文水平发展得很快。 Tā de zhōngwén shuǐpíng fāzhǎn de hěn kuài. His Chinese level is developing very quickly.

这个城市的基础设施发展得非常好。 Zhège chéngshì de jīchǔ shèshī fāzhǎn de fēicháng hǎo. This city's infrastructure has developed very well.

教育是推动社会发展的重要因素。 Jiàoyù shì tuīdòng shèhuì fāzhǎn de zhòngyào yīnsù. Education is an important factor in driving social development.

Collocations

Collocation	Meaning
经济发展	economic development
快速发展	rapid development
可持续发展	sustainable development
发展机会	development opportunity

Usage Notes

发展 is one of the most important and frequently used words in modern Chinese, appearing in news, politics, business, and everyday conversation. As a noun, it pairs with many adjectives and domain words. As a verb, it describes growth over time. The concept of 发展 is central to China's national narrative, with phrases like 科学发展观 (Scientific Outlook on Development) being common in public discourse.

Memory Hook

发 means "to launch or send out" and 展 means "to spread or unfold," so 发展 is to launch something and let it unfold and spread, to develop.