触发

觸發

chùfā

verb #9,153

Meanings

1 to trigger; to set off
2 to spark; to provoke (a reaction)

Characters

to touch; to contact

to emit; to send out; to trigger

Examples

这个按钮会触发警报。

Zhège ànniǔ huì chùfā jǐngbào.

This button will trigger the alarm.

他的话触发了一场争论。

Tā de huà chùfā le yī chǎng zhēnglùn.

His words sparked a debate.

什么触发了这次地震？

Shénme chùfā le zhè cì dìzhèn?

What triggered this earthquake?

Tips

usage

触发 is widely used in tech contexts: 触发器 (trigger/flip-flop), 触发事件 (trigger event). In everyday speech it often describes something that sets off a chain reaction.

Stroke Order

触 chù

发 fā