发起 fāqǐ to originate
to originate; to initiate; to launch (an attack, an initiative etc); to start; to propose something (for the first time)
How to remember 发起: 发 send out + 起 rise up = to originate.
Characters
How it is used
- Formal verb for launching something on behalf of others to join: 发起活动 (fāqǐ huódòng) - launch a campaign/event, 发起人 (fāqǐrén) - initiator/founder.
- Also used for attacks: 发起攻击 (fāqǐ gōngjī) - launch an attack.
- Different from plain 开始 (kāishǐ), to start: 发起 implies you're the one proposing or organizing something for others to participate in, not just beginning an action alone.
Example sentences
- 敌人对我们发起了攻击。 Dírén duì wǒmen fāqǐ le gōngjī.The enemy launched an attack on us.