发生 fā shēng
“to happen; to occur; to take place; to break out”
verb, verb / nounHSK 4 · 2021 list level 3Traditional 發生
新HSK等级2025 HSK 3.0 syllabus level
发生 appears in the November 2025 exam syllabus in the following numbered entry. Levels refer to the listed reading and use, not every meaning.
- Entry 616: 发生 fāshēng — Level 3; official annotation 3 (动). PDF page 95
Separate from the HSK 2.0 and 2021 list labels above. Compare the three lists.
用法How to use 发生
发生 means to happen or take place, and it is used for events, accidents, changes, or problems. It is intransitive: the event happens, and a person is not the direct object. Common patterns are 发生了 + event, event + 发生在 + place/time, and 发生什么事了？
例句Example sentences
- 前面发生了一起事故。qián miàn fā shēng le yì qǐ shì gù.An accident happened ahead.
- 这件事是什么时候发生的？zhè jiàn shì shì shén me shí hou fā shēng de?When did this happen?
- 这两年，我们的城市发生了很大的变化。zhè liǎng nián, wǒ men de chéng shì fā shēng le hěn dà de biàn huà.In the past two years, our city has changed a lot.
常见错误Common mistakes
-
✗昨天发生了一个会议。
✓昨天举行了一个会议。
Planned activities like meetings use 举行, not 发生.