ENESFRDE中文

Characters, words, pinyin or English

打发 dǎfa to dispatch somebody to do something

to dispatch somebody to do something; to make somebody leave; to pass (the time); (old) to make arrangements; (old) to bestow (alms etc)

How to remember 打发: 打 hit + 发 send out = to dispatch somebody to do something.

  • HSK 7
  • Word

Characters

How it is used

  • Two everyday jobs: pass/kill time - 打发时间 (dǎfa shíjiān) kill time; and get rid of someone - 把他打发走了 (bǎ tā dǎfa zǒu le) I sent him packing.
  • The second sense is slightly dismissive: to fob someone off or brush them aside, not politely see them off.
  • Colloquial; note 发 is neutral tone (fa), not fā.