====== fāsòng: 发送 - To Send, Dispatch, Transmit ======
===== Quick Summary =====
  *   **Keywords:** fasong, fa song, 发送, how to say send in Chinese, send email in Chinese, send message Chinese, what does fasong mean, Chinese verb for send, transmit in Chinese, dispatch goods Chinese
  *   **Summary:** Learn the essential Chinese verb **发送 (fāsòng)**, the direct equivalent of hitting "send" on your digital devices. This comprehensive guide covers how to use **fāsòng** for sending emails, text messages, and files in modern China. Discover the crucial differences between **发送 (fāsòng)**, **送 (sòng)** (to give a gift), and **寄 (jì)** (to mail), and understand its cultural significance in China's hyper-digital society. With 10 practical example sentences, this entry will help you master the art of "sending" in Mandarin Chinese.
===== Core Meaning =====
  *   **Pinyin (with tone marks):** fāsòng
  *   **Part of Speech:** Verb
  *   **HSK Level:** HSK 3
  *   **Concise Definition:** To send, dispatch, or transmit something, especially electronically or through a formal channel.
  *   **In a Nutshell:** **发送 (fāsòng)** is the word you use when you press the "send" button. Think of it as the action of dispatching information or items from a system. While it can be used for physical goods, its heartland is the digital world: sending an email, a WeChat message, a file, or a signal. It feels more formal and less personal than simply "giving" something to someone.
===== Character Breakdown =====
  *   **发 (fā):** This character means "to send out," "to issue," or "to emit." Picture it as an action that starts from a source and moves outward, like firing an arrow or issuing a command.
  *   **送 (sòng):** This character means "to deliver," "to send," or "to see someone off." The "walk" radical (辶) on the bottom left suggests movement and travel from one point to another.
  *   The two characters combine to create a strong, clear meaning: **发 (to send out) + 送 (to deliver) = 发送 (to dispatch/send)**. It emphasizes the complete action of sending something out for delivery, making it perfect for formal systems like the postal service, logistics, and digital networks.
===== Cultural Context and Significance =====
While **发送 (fāsòng)** is a functional word, its explosion in common usage is a direct reflection of China's rapid digital transformation. In a country where daily life is deeply integrated with super-apps like WeChat (微信 Wēixìn), the act of **发送** is performed hundreds of times a day by nearly everyone.
Unlike the English word "send," which has always been a common verb, the prominence of **发送 (fāsòng)** is relatively new and tied to technology. It symbolizes the shift from a society based on physical interaction to one where digital communication is paramount. The term is less about personal connection (like giving a gift) and more about efficient, instantaneous information transfer.
Compare this to the Western concept of "sending a message." While functionally the same, the cultural weight in China is tied to the **platform**. Sending a message on WeChat isn't just a private act; it's participating in a massive, integrated ecosystem that handles communication, payments, and official services. Therefore, understanding **发送 (fāsòng)** isn't just learning a word; it's acknowledging the digital infrastructure that underpins modern Chinese society.
===== Practical Usage in Modern China =====
**发送 (fāsòng)** is used in several key contexts, primarily distinguished by what is being sent.
=== Digital Communication (Most Common) ===
This is the primary use case for **发送**. It's the verb for sending any form of digital data.
  *   **发送邮件 (fāsòng yóujiàn):** To send an email.
  *   **发送短信 (fāsòng duǎnxìn):** To send a text message (SMS).
  *   **发送微信 (fāsòng Wēixìn):** To send a WeChat message.
  *   **发送文件 (fāsòng wénjiàn):** To send a file.
  *   The button you click in these apps will almost always be labeled "**发送**".
=== Logistics and E-commerce ===
In the context of online shopping (Taobao, JD.com), **发送** is used by the seller or system to mean "dispatch goods." It's more formal than a customer would typically use.
  *   **卖家已发送货物。(Màijiā yǐ fāsòng huòwù.)** - The seller has dispatched the goods.
  *   A user is more likely to use the word **发货 (fāhuò)**, which specifically means "to ship goods."
=== Formal or Technical Usage ===
In more technical or official situations, **发送** can mean to transmit signals or dispatch people.
  *   **发送信号 (fāsòng xìnhào):** To transmit a signal.
  *   **发送指令 (fāsòng zhǐlìng):** To issue a command/instruction.
===== Example Sentences =====
  *   **Example 1:**
    *   我需要给你**发送**一个重要的邮件。
    *   Pinyin: Wǒ xūyào gěi nǐ **fāsòng** yí ge zhòngyào de yóujiàn.
    *   English: I need to send you an important email.
    *   Analysis: A very standard and common use of **发送** for digital communication. This is a complete, formal sentence. In casual speech, one might just say **发 (fā)**.
  *   **Example 2:**
    *   你昨天**发送**的文件我收到了。
    *   Pinyin: Nǐ zuótiān **fāsòng** de wénjiàn wǒ shōudào le.
    *   English: I received the file you sent yesterday.
    *   Analysis: This sentence shows **发送** being used in the past tense to refer to a completed action. **收到 (shōudào)**, "to receive," is the natural opposite of **发送**.
  *   **Example 3:**
    *   点击“**发送**”按钮即可。
    *   Pinyin: Diǎnjī "**fāsòng**" ànniǔ jí kě.
    *   English: Just click the "send" button.
    *   Analysis: This is instructional language, exactly what you would see in an app or on a website. It treats **发送** as the literal name of the function.
  *   **Example 4:**
    *   系统提示：消息**发送**成功。
    *   Pinyin: Xìtǒng tíshì: Xiāoxi **fāsòng** chénggōng.
    *   English: System notification: Message sent successfully.
    *   Analysis: This is a classic example of the impersonal, system-generated language where **发送** is perfectly at home.
  *   **Example 5:**
    *   请问您要**发送**到哪个地址？
    *   Pinyin: Qǐngwèn nín yào **fāsòng** dào nǎge dìzhǐ?
    *   English: Excuse me, which address would you like to send it to?
    *   Analysis: This could be used for either an email address or a physical address for a package. The politeness of **请问 (qǐngwèn)** and **您 (nín)** makes it suitable for customer service.
  *   **Example 6:**
    *   他忘了**发送**会议通知。
    *   Pinyin: Tā wàng le **fāsòng** huìyì tōngzhī.
    *   English: He forgot to send the meeting notification.
    *   Analysis: Demonstrates using **发送** for broadcasting information to a group.
  *   **Example 7:**
    *   这个包裹是什么时候**发送**的？
    *   Pinyin: Zhège bāoguǒ shì shénme shíhou **fāsòng** de?
    *   English: When was this package dispatched?
    *   Analysis: Here, **发送** is used for logistics. The focus is on the time of dispatch from the warehouse or post office.
  *   **Example 8:**
    *   我们不能向无效的邮箱**发送**邮件。
    *   Pinyin: Wǒmen bù néng xiàng wúxiào de yóuxiāng **fāsòng** yóujiàn.
    *   English: We cannot send emails to an invalid email address.
    *   Analysis: Shows the negative form **不能发送 (bù néng fāsòng)** and the structure **向...发送 (xiàng...fāsòng)**, meaning "to send to...".
  *   **Example 9:**
    *   空间站正在向地球**发送**数据。
    *   Pinyin: Kōngjiānzhàn zhèngzài xiàng dìqiú **fāsòng** shùjù.
    *   English: The space station is transmitting data to Earth.
    *   Analysis: A great example of the technical use of **发送** for transmitting data or signals.
  *   **Example 10:**
    *   我已经向你**发送**了好友请求。
    *   Pinyin: Wǒ yǐjīng xiàng nǐ **fāsòng** le hǎoyǒu shēnqǐng.
    *   English: I have already sent you a friend request.
    *   Analysis: While casual speech might use **加你 (jiā nǐ)**, the formal system action is **发送请求 (fāsòng shēnqǐng)**, "to send a request."
===== Nuances and Common Mistakes =====
The most common mistake for learners is using **发送 (fāsòng)** in situations where a more personal or specific verb is needed.
  *   **发送 (fāsòng) vs. 送 (sòng):** This is the most important distinction.
    *   **发送 (fāsòng):** Impersonal dispatch. Use for emails, texts, files, packages from a company.
    *   **送 (sòng):** Personal delivery or giving. Use for giving a gift, seeing a friend off, or taking someone somewhere.
    *   **Incorrect:** 我**发送**你一个生日礼物。 (Wǒ fāsòng nǐ yí ge shēngrì lǐwù.) -> Wrong. This sounds like you are mailing your friend a gift like a robot.
    *   **Correct:** 我**送**你一个生日礼物。 (Wǒ sòng nǐ yí ge shēngrì lǐwù.) -> Correct. "I'll give you a birthday gift."
  *   **发送 (fāsòng) vs. 寄 (jì):**
    *   **寄 (jì):** Specifically means "to send by mail" or "to post." It emphasizes the action of using the postal service.
    *   **发送 (fāsòng):** Can be used by the logistics company to mean "dispatch," but as a person, you **寄 (jì)** a letter.
    *   **Incorrect:** 我要去邮局**发送**一封信。 (Wǒ yào qù yóujú fāsòng yì fēng xìn.) -> Awkward.
    *   **Correct:** 我要去邮局**寄**一封信。 (Wǒ yào qù yóujú jì yì fēng xìn.) -> Correct. "I need to go to the post office to mail a letter."
  *   **发送 (fāsòng) vs. 发 (fā):**
    *   In casual, digital contexts, **发 (fā)** is often used as a shorthand for **发送 (fāsòng)**.
    *   **Example:** **发**个微信给我。(Fā ge Wēixìn gěi wǒ.) - "Send me a WeChat."
    *   **Example:** 你**发**邮件了吗？ (Nǐ fā yóujiàn le ma?) - "Did you send the email?"
    *   Using the full **发送 (fāsòng)** in these cases is not wrong, just slightly more formal.
===== Related Terms and Concepts =====
  *   [[寄]] (jì) - To mail; to send via the postal service. More specific than **发送** for letters and personal packages.
  *   [[送]] (sòng) - To give (as a gift); to deliver in person; to see someone off. The personal and physical counterpart to the impersonal **发送**.
  *   [[发]] (fā) - A common shorthand for **发送** in casual speech, especially for digital messages (e.g., 发微信, 发邮件).
  *   [[收到]] (shōudào) - The direct antonym: to receive. If you **发送** something, the other person will hopefully **收到** it.
  *   [[发货]] (fāhuò) - To ship goods. The specific verb used in e-commerce and logistics for when a seller sends out an order.
  *   [[传送]] (chuánsòng) - To transmit, to transfer. Often used for data transfer, or in fantasy/sci-fi contexts for teleportation. More technical than **发送**.
  *   [[邮件]] (yóujiàn) - Email. A very common object for the verb **发送**.
  *   [[短信]] (duǎnxìn) - Text message (SMS). Another common object for **发送**.