〜発

§ What does 〜発 (hatsu) mean?

The Japanese counter 〜発 (hatsu) is used to indicate the origin or starting point of something, especially when it comes to transportation or a departure. Think of it as meaning 'departing from' or 'originating from'. It's a really useful word to know when you're talking about travel, whether it's trains, planes, or buses.

You'll typically find 〜発 attached to a place name, directly telling you where something is coming from. For example, if a train is leaving from Tokyo, you would say 東京発 (Tōkyō hatsu).

§ When do people use 〜発 (hatsu)?

The most common use of 〜発 (hatsu) is in the context of transportation. Here are a few scenarios where you'll definitely encounter it:

• Trains: When you're looking at train schedules or buying tickets, you'll see 〜発 to denote the departure station.
• Buses: Similar to trains, bus routes and schedules will use 〜発 to specify the starting point of the bus journey.
• Flights: For flights, 〜発 indicates the departure airport.
• Deliveries/Shipments: Less common, but you might also see it used to indicate the origin of a package or shipment.

Let's look at some practical examples to make this clearer.

DEFINITION

Departing from (origin); indicating origin of departure.

Here, 東京発 (Tōkyō hatsu) clearly tells us that Tokyo is the starting point of the train's journey. It's a concise way to convey that information.

In this example, 大阪発 (Ōsaka hatsu) specifies that the flight originated from Osaka. Notice how the particle の (no) is used after 大阪発 to connect it to 飛行機 (hikōki, airplane).

It's important to differentiate 〜発 (hatsu) from other particles or expressions that might seem similar but have different nuances. For instance, 〜から (kara) can also indicate origin ('from'), but 〜発 is more specific to the point of departure for a journey or a physical item. 〜発 gives a more formal and official tone, especially in travel contexts.

Knowing 〜発 (hatsu) will greatly help you navigate Japanese transportation systems and understand announcements or schedules. Keep an eye out for it when you're reading about travel in Japan!

§ Understanding 「〜発」 (hatsu)

「〜発」 (hatsu) is a suffix that literally means 'departure.' It's attached to nouns, usually indicating a place or time from which something departs or originates. Think of it as 'departing from [place]' or 'originating from [place/time].'

DEFINITION

Departing from (origin); indicating origin of departure.

§ Basic Usage: Place of Departure

The most common use of 「〜発」 is to specify the starting point of a journey, often used with transportation like trains, buses, or flights. You simply attach it to the name of the station, airport, or city.

HINT

The Shinkansen departing from Tokyo leaves at 9 AM.

HINT

This bus departs from Shinjuku.

§ Indicating Origin of Communication/Goods

「〜発」 isn't just for physical travel. It can also indicate the origin of information, news, or even goods. In these cases, it signifies 'coming from' or 'originating from.'

HINT

A notice from headquarters arrived.

HINT

This product originates from China.

§ Usage with Time

While less common than with locations, 「〜発」 can also be used with time to indicate the starting point of an event or series of events. This is often seen in more formal or official contexts.

HINT

A new project will start next week (starting next week).

§ Common Phrases and Patterns

You'll often see 「〜発」 used in specific patterns. Here are a few to keep in mind:

• [Place]発 [行き/着] ([Place]-hatsu [iki/tsuki]): This pattern is very common for transportation, meaning 'departing from [place] and bound for/arriving at [another place].'

HINT

An express bus departing from Osaka and bound for Tokyo.

• [Source]発のニュース ([Source]-hatsu no nyuusu): 'News from [source].'

HINT

This is important news from the government.

Remember, 「〜発」 is a versatile suffix that helps you specify the origin of movement, information, or even a starting point in time. Pay attention to the context, and you'll quickly get the hang of it!

§ What does 〜発 mean?

The Japanese word 〜発 (hatsu) is a suffix that indicates the origin of departure. Think of it as meaning 'departing from' or 'originating in'. It's super common when talking about transportation, but you'll hear it in other contexts too.

DEFINITION

Departing from (origin); indicating origin of departure.

§ Where you'll hear 〜発: Work, School, News

You'll encounter 〜発 in many daily situations in Japan, especially if you're commuting or keeping up with the news. Here's a breakdown:

• Transportation (Trains, Buses, Flights): This is probably the most common place. When you're looking at train schedules or airport information, you'll see it everywhere.

  東京発の電車はもう出ましたか？

  (Has the train departing from Tokyo already left?)

  ロンドン発の飛行機が遅れています。

  (The flight from London is delayed.)

• News and Information: When news breaks, especially international news, you'll hear 〜発 used to indicate where the information originated.

  ニューヨーク発のニュースによると、株価が急落しました。

  (According to news from New York, stock prices have plummeted.)

• Business and Logistics: In a business context, particularly for shipping or delivery, it's used to specify the origin point of goods.

  この商品は大阪発で発送されます。

  (This product will be shipped from Osaka.)

• Events or Initiatives: Sometimes, though less frequently, you might hear it when talking about an event or an initiative that started from a specific place or group.

  学生発のプロジェクトが成功しました。

  (The project initiated by students was a success.)

The key is to remember that 〜発 always points to the starting point, whether it's a physical journey or the origin of information. Pay attention to the context, and you'll quickly get the hang of it!

Let's talk about ～発 (hatsu). This suffix is used to indicate the starting point or origin of something, specifically when it's departing. Think of it as 'departing from' or 'originating from.' It's super practical when you're talking about trains, flights, or even letters.

Japanese Word

～発 (hatsu)

Meaning

Departing from (origin); indicating origin of departure.

JLPT Level

N3 / CEFR B1

§ Examples with ～発

• Tōkyō hatsu no densha wa mō shuppatsu shimashita ka?

• Has the train departing from Tokyo already left?

• Kono tegami wa Ōsaka hatsu desu.

• This letter is from Osaka. (Meaning: It originated in Osaka, or was sent from Osaka.)

• Tsugi no Nyūyōku hatsu no hikōki wa nanji desu ka?

• What time is the next flight departing from New York?

§ Similar words and when to use this one vs alternatives

Now, let's look at some similar words and how ～発 stacks up against them. It's important to pick the right word for the right situation.

From: ～から (kara)

This is your general 'from' particle. It's much broader than ～発. You can use it for origins, starting points in time, or even sources of information.

彼は日本から来ました。

• Kare wa Nihon kara kimashita.

• He came from Japan.

朝9時から会議が始まります。

• Asa kuji kara kaigi ga hajimarimasu.

• The meeting starts from 9 AM.

Origin: 出身 (shusshin)

出身 is specifically used to talk about a person's place of origin, like where they're from or where they graduated. It's about personal background, not the departure of an object or vehicle.

私は東京出身です。

• Watashi wa Tōkyō shusshin desu.

• I am from Tokyo. (Meaning: Tokyo is my hometown/place of origin.)

彼は京都大学出身の学者です。

• Kare wa Kyōto Daigaku shusshin no gakusha desu.

• He is a scholar from Kyoto University. (Meaning: He graduated from Kyoto University.)

Setting off/Starting: 出発 (shuppatsu)

出発 (shuppatsu) is a verb (or a noun when used with する) meaning 'to depart' or 'to set off'. While it's related to the concept of departure, it's about the action itself, not specifying the origin in the same way ～発 does.

電車は今、出発します。

• Densha wa ima, shuppatsu shimasu.

• The train is departing now.

私たちの旅行の出発は明日です。

• Watashitachi no ryokō no shuppatsu wa ashita desu.

• The departure for our trip is tomorrow.

In summary, while all these words relate to origins or starting points, ～発 is your go-to when you're talking about the specific origin of a departure, especially for transportation or correspondence. Keep practicing and you'll get the hang of it!