Usage note
发明表示创造出新的东西。
fā míng biǎo shì chuàng zào chū xīn de dōng xī。
发明 means to invent something new.
Context note
发明常用于科技、工具和历史。
fā míng cháng yòng yú kē jì 、 gōng jù hé lì shǐ。
It is often used with technology, tools, and history.
5 examples
他发明了一个新东西。
tā fā míng le yí gè xīn dōng xī。
He invented something new.
这是一项重要发明。
zhè shì yí xiàng zhòng yào fā míng。
This is an important invention.
发明让生活更方便。
fā míng ràng shēng huó gèng fāng biàn。
Inventions make life more convenient.
老师讲了谁发明了灯泡。
lǎo shī jiǎng le shuí fā míng le dēng pào。
The teacher explained who invented the light bulb.
他想发明机器人。
tā xiǎng fā míng jī qì rén。
He wants to invent a robot.
5 mini stories
这位科学家发明了新机器。
zhè wèi kē xué jiā fā míng le xīn jī qì。
This scientist invented a new machine.
孩子喜欢听发明的故事。
hái zi xǐ huan tīng fā míng de gù shì。
The child likes listening to stories about inventions.
发明帮助人们做事更快。
fā míng bāng zhù rén men zuò shì gèng kuài。
Inventions help people do things faster.
老师让大家想一想如果发明新东西。
lǎo shī ràng dà jiā xiǎng yi xiǎng rú guǒ fā míng xīn dōng xī。
The teacher asked everyone to think about inventing something new.
他小时候就梦想发明机器人。
tā xiǎo shí hòu jiù mèng xiǎng fā míng jī qì rén。
He dreamed of inventing robots when he was little.
Mini dialogue
伟大的发明
A
你觉得最伟大的发明是什么？
Nǐ juéde zuì wěidà de fāmíng shì shénme?
What do you think is the greatest invention?
B
我觉得电灯的发明改变了世界。
Wǒ juéde diàndēng de fāmíng gǎibiàn le shìjiè.
I think the invention of the light bulb changed the world.
我想发明
A
如果你能发明一样东西，你会发明什么？
Rúguǒ nǐ néng fāmíng yīyàng dōngxi, nǐ huì fāmíng shénme?
If you could invent something, what would you invent?
B
我想发明一个会做家务的机器人。
Wǒ xiǎng fāmíng yī gè huì zuò jiāwù de jīqìrén.
I want to invent a robot that can do housework.
Related words and contrasts
similar
创造
chuàngzào
create
发明 focuses on inventing new things; 创造 is broader, including creating art or ideas.
contrast
发现
fāxiàn
discover
发明 means to invent something new; 发现 means to find something that already exists.
related
设计
shèjì
design
设计 is about planning how something will look or work, often before inventing it.