勃

Phono-semantic compound consisting of:

力 (힘 력) — semantic component, representing “strength, energy, exertion.”

孛 (살별 패 / 안색 변할 발) — phonetic component, providing the sound bal / bó and conveying the sense of sudden, forceful movement (as in a comet’s outburst).

Thus, 勃 expresses sudden or forceful exertion of energy, extending both to emotional states (anger) and physical vigor (flourishing, eruption).

In Shuowen Jiezi (說文解字):

「勃，怒也。从力，孛聲。」

“勃 means anger. Composed of 力 (strength) and phonetic 孛.”

The word’s range spans physical, emotional, and metaphorical meanings:

Physical: “to rise, surge, flourish.”

Emotional: “to become violently angry.”

Figurative: “to arise suddenly” (as in 勃興之國 “a rapidly rising nation”).

This duality — suddenness and force — makes 勃 a vivid descriptor in both classical and modern usage.

勃發 (발발) — to erupt, break out (as in emotion or war)

勃興 (발흥) — to rise suddenly, flourish (used for nations, movements, or energy)

怒勃 (노발) — to flare up in anger

氣勃勃 (기발발) — full of vigor, energetic (idiomatic)

勃然 (발연) — suddenly, abruptly (esp. in phrases like 勃然大怒 “burst into anger”)

In classical Chinese, it marked the eruption of passion or power, while in modern usage it retains this sense in both literal and figurative expressions.

Zuo Zhuan (左傳 · 成公十三年):

「勃然而怒。」

“He suddenly became enraged” — one of the earliest attestations of the idiom 勃然大怒 (“to flare up in great anger”).

Han Shu (漢書 · 賈誼傳):

「勃興於諸侯之間。」

“He arose suddenly among the feudal lords” — here 勃興 describes the sudden rise of a power or movement.

In modern Chinese usage still productive in compound words:

勃然大怒 (bórán dà nù) — to flare up in rage.

蓬勃發展 (péngbó fāzhǎn) — to develop vigorously.

生氣勃勃 (shēngqì bóbó) — full of life and vitality.

勃興 (bóxīng) — to rise suddenly (of nations, movements).

In Korean, it survives in compounds like 발흥(勃興) and 기발발(氣勃勃), still carrying the essence of energetic uprising — the moment when something dormant suddenly erupts into motion.