Understanding "打发" - Chinese Word Explanation

1. Basic Information

• Word: 打发
• Pinyin: dǎfa
• Literal Meaning: “to hit/send off” or “to send away”
• Primary Meaning: to send someone away, dismiss someone, or pass/spend time

2. In-depth Explanation

• Context and Usage: 打发 is a useful everyday Chinese word with a few related meanings. Its most common meaning is “to send someone away” or “to dismiss someone,” often implying that the speaker does not want to deal with the person for long. For example, you might use it when someone quickly gives a salesperson a reason to leave.

Another very common usage is 打发时间, meaning “to pass the time” or “to kill time.” In this phrase, 打发 does not mean dismissing a person, but rather making time go by, often when waiting or feeling bored.

Depending on context, 打发 can sound neutral, practical, or slightly dismissive. When used about people, it may suggest handling someone casually or without much attention. When used with 时间, it is neutral and very common.

• Character Breakdown: 打发 has two characters:

打 means “to hit,” “to strike,” or more broadly “to do/perform an action” in many Chinese compounds.

发 means “to send out,” “to issue,” “to dispatch,” or “to develop.”

Together, 打发 originally carries the sense of “sending off” or “dispatching,” which developed into meanings like “send away,” “dismiss,” and “pass time.”

3. Example Sentences

• Chinese: 他用几句话就把推销员打发走了。
• Pinyin: Tā yòng jǐ jù huà jiù bǎ tuīxiāoyuán dǎfa zǒu le.

• English: He sent the salesperson away with just a few words.

• Chinese: 我们在机场看电影打发时间。

• Pinyin: Wǒmen zài jīchǎng kàn diànyǐng dǎfa shíjiān.

• English: We watched movies at the airport to pass the time.

• Chinese: 她不想认真回答，只是随便打发了我。

• Pinyin: Tā bù xiǎng rènzhēn huídá, zhǐ shì suíbiàn dǎfa le wǒ.
• English: She did not want to answer seriously and just brushed me off casually.

Cultural Notes (if applicable)

In Chinese daily life, 打发 is often connected with social interaction and practical handling of situations. For example, 打发客人 can mean “send guests away,” but depending on tone and context, it may sound a little rude, as if the guests are being dealt with quickly rather than treated warmly.

The phrase 打发时间 is especially common and natural. It is similar to English “kill time,” but it is not usually negative. People may say they read, play games, chat, or watch videos to 打发时间 while waiting.

Conclusion

打发 is a flexible word that mainly means “to send away,” “to dismiss,” or “to pass time.” Remember the common phrase 打发时间, meaning “to pass the time,” and be careful when using 打发 with people, because it can sometimes sound dismissive or casual.