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I would like to know the difference between 見つける and 発見する
Some partial answer has been given in:
(～を)見つける means "to find ~~". Source: What is the difference between 見つける and 探す
But I found some sentences where both have been translated as "find"
わたしはあくまでも彼女を見つけるつもりです。 I will definitely find her.
ＫＴビル４階で対象を発見しました I found the target on the fourth floor of the KT Building.
Are they equivalent or is there a slight difference ?
This is basically another wago-and-kango problem. 発見 is a much bigger and stiffer word used in scientific, military or other serious business contexts. You should not use 発見 in everyday casual conversations unless a joke is intended.
