Definition

1. Verb:
   • To discover: To find something that was previously hidden, secret, or unknown, often something illegal or improper.
   • To expose: To reveal or bring to light a wrongdoing, crime, or secret activity.
   • To detect: To notice or identify the existence or presence of something concealed.

Usage Examples

• Verb:
  • Cảnh sát vừa phát giác một đường dây buôn lậu. (The police just discovered a smuggling ring.)
  • Hành động gian lận của anh ta đã bị phát giác. (His fraudulent actions have been exposed.)
  • Máy quét an ninh phát giác có vũ khí trong hành lý. (The security scanner detected a weapon in the luggage.)

Advanced Usage

• The word often carries a formal or official tone and is commonly used in legal, security, journalistic, or investigative contexts.
• It implies an element of uncovering something that was intentionally kept secret, especially something negative or illicit.

Variants and Related Words

• Sự phát giác (n): The act of discovery or exposure; a revelation.

  • Sự phát giác đó đã gây chấn động. (That discovery caused an uproar.)

• Kẻ bị phát giác (n): The person who is exposed or discovered.

  • Kẻ bị phát giác đã thú tội. (The exposed person confessed.)

Synonyms

• Discover: To find something unexpectedly or in the course of search.
• Expose: To make something secret known.
• Uncover: To remove a cover or to discover something hidden.
• Detect: To discover or identify the presence of something.

Related Idioms and Phrases

• Phát giác ra sự thật: To uncover the truth.

  • Nhà báo quyết tâm phát giác ra sự thật. (The journalist is determined to uncover the truth.)

• Bị phát giác: To be found out; to be exposed.

  • Âm mưu của họ cuối cùng cũng bị phát giác. (Their plot was finally found out.)

verb

1. to reveal, to discover, to find out