一发

一發

yīfā

adverb #15,597

Meanings

1 once triggered (leading to an unstoppable chain)
2 one shot; one round (of ammunition)

Characters

to emit; to shoot; to send out

Examples

事情一发不可收拾。

Shìqíng yīfā bùkě shōushi.

Once it started, things got completely out of hand.

他只用了一发子弹就击中了目标。

Tā zhǐ yòng le yī fā zǐdàn jiù jīzhòng le mùbiāo.

He hit the target with just one shot.

Tips

usage

Most commonly seen in the idiom 一发不可收拾 (once started, impossible to stop/control). As a measure word phrase (一发子弹 = one round of ammo), 发 is a measure word for bullets, shells, and missiles.

Stroke Order

一 yī

发 fā