伐 fá cut down
cut down; subjugate; attack
How it came to be
会意 · Meaning + meaning
Two or more parts whose meanings together make the new meaning.
The oldest form shows a weapon cutting through a person's neck.
用法
- To fell/cut down (trees) or to launch a punitive attack: 砍伐 (kǎnfá) to log, 讨伐 (tǎofá) to send a punitive expedition.
- Note the separate word 步伐 (bùfá) pace/step, where 伐 no longer carries 'cut': a fixed compound to memorize.
- The 'attack' sense is formal/historical; the 'fell trees' sense is everyday.