攻 gōng to accuse
to accuse; to assault; to attack
How to remember 攻: 工 work + 攵 tap = to accuse. At work the manager gives the desk a tap with his finger and starts to accuse the intern of eating his yoghurt.
Component breakdown
形声 · Meaning + sound
One part gives the meaning, the other gives the sound.
攻 = 工 work + 攵 tap
- 工 work sound
- 攵 tap meaning
At work the manager gives the desk a tap with his finger and starts to accuse the intern of eating his yoghurt.
How it came to be
A hand holding a weapon gives the meaning and work gives the sound.
How it is used
- To attack/assault, or to work hard at: 进攻 (jìngōng) attack (opp. 防守 fángshǒu defend), 攻击 (gōngjī) assault/attack (also verbal), 攻势 (gōngshì) offensive.
- 'To tackle/master': 攻克 (gōngkè) capture/overcome, 攻关 (gōngguān) tackle a key problem, 攻读 (gōngdú) pursue (a degree).
- 以攻为守 (yǐgōng-wéishǒu) = attack as a form of defense.