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発明 (はつめい) Japanese meaning | Kotomora
Common word JLPT N3 Freq. Frequency Top 5,000 Conjugation Meanings 1
noun, noun or participle which takes 'suru', transitive verb
invention ; inventing
Used as a noun for an invention, and as 発明する for creating or devising something new, especially a device, method, or technology.
しい
医い
療りょう
機き
器き
を
発はつ
明めい
し
た
。
She invented a new medical device.
2
na-adjective
clever ; intelligent ; smart
dated term
Dated adjectival use meaning clever or bright. It is not a normal modern way to praise someone's intelligence; words such as 賢い or 利口 are much more common today.
Kanji 発 departure, discharge, publish Similar words 発はっ 見けん 発見 means discovering something that already exists; 発明 means creating something new.
考こう 案あん 考案 is devising or working out an idea, plan, or design; 発明 more strongly suggests an invention, often with novelty or practical technology.
創そう 造ぞう 創造 is broad creation or creativity, including artistic or abstract creation; 発明 is narrower and usually refers to inventing a new device, method, or technology.
Etymology A Sino-Japanese compound written with 発, associated with bringing forth or developing, and 明, associated with brightness or clarity. The modern main sense is 'invention'; the old adjectival sense 'clever' is a dated extension connected with mental brightness or clarity.
