---
title: "Fadong Meaning: 发动 (fādòng) Means “to launch”"
description: "发动 (traditional 發動, fādòng) means “to launch; to start (an attack, campaign)”. Hear its tones, see what 发 and 动 each mean and a real sentence that uses it."
canonical: "https://mandarinthewild.com/meaning/fadong"
published: "2026-10-21"
updated: "2026-11-06"
author: "Mandarin The Wild"
---

[What does it mean in Chinese?](https://mandarinthewild.com/meaning)

# What does 发动 mean?

猫头鹰māotóuyīngowl

发动 fādòng

## to launch; to start (an attack, campaign)

## It can also mean

- to start (an engine)
- to mobilize; to arouse

## Its characters

1. 发 fā to send
2. 动 dòng to touch (with the hand)

## In a sentence

他上车后马上发动了汽车。 He started the car as soon as he got in.

[More about 发动](https://mandarinthewild.com/words/%E5%8F%91%E5%8A%A8)

## More words with 发 or 动

- [爆发 bàofā](https://mandarinthewild.com/meaning/baofa)
- [被动 bèidòng](https://mandarinthewild.com/meaning/beidong)
- [变动 biàndòng](https://mandarinthewild.com/meaning/biandong)
- [并发症 bìngfāzhèng](https://mandarinthewild.com/meaning/bingfazheng)
- [波动 bōdòng](https://mandarinthewild.com/meaning/bodong)
- [不动产 bùdòngchǎn](https://mandarinthewild.com/meaning/budongchan)
- [冲动 chōngdòng](https://mandarinthewild.com/meaning/chongdong)
- [出动 chūdòng](https://mandarinthewild.com/meaning/chudong)
- [出发 chūfā](https://mandarinthewild.com/meaning/chufa)
- [打动 dǎdòng](https://mandarinthewild.com/meaning/dadong)

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