The Chinese word 发现 (fā xiàn) is made up of two characters:

• 发 (fā): Originally, this character was a pictograph of a hand with outstretched fingers, representing the act of sending out, emitting, or issuing forth. Over time, it evolved to encompass meanings like “discharge,” “develop,” “express,” and “discover.”

• 现 (xiàn): This character is a combination of two components:
  • 見 (jiàn): A pictograph of an eye, representing “to see” or “to appear.”
  • 王 (wáng): Originally a pictograph of an axe, symbolizing power and authority. In this context, it might signify making something visible or prominent.

Therefore, the original structure of 发现 suggests the act of “sending out” or “uncovering” something that was previously hidden, leading to its appearance or revelation. This aligns with the modern meaning of the word: “to discover” or “to find.”

The evolution of these characters reflects how written Chinese has developed over centuries, with meanings expanding and adapting to new contexts.