出发 (chū fā) — to set off in Mandarin
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#1283 most common word · HSK 4 · CEFR B1
Pinyin colour key: tone 1 (high flat), tone 2 (rising), tone 3 (dipping), tone 4 (falling), neutral.
Tone breakdown
出发 is pronounced chū fā. Tap any syllable’s row to hear the whole word.
In a sentence
wǒmen jīn tiān xià wǔ chū fā qù lǚ yóu.
We will set off this afternoon for a trip.
Hear it, then say it right
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Start freeFrequently asked questions
What does 出发 mean?+
出发 (chū fā) means "to set off" in Mandarin Chinese.
How do you pronounce 出发?+
出发 is pronounced chū fā. It uses the tone 1 (high flat). Tap the character on this page to hear native audio.
How common is 出发 in Mandarin?+
出发 is the #1283 most frequent word in spoken Mandarin, so it is one of the first words worth learning.
Where 出发 fits
Every HSK 4 word with tone-coloured pinyin and audio.
Words at a similar frequency
Master the tones first
What each tone sounds like and why it matters.
Why some tones change in connected speech.
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