判

pàn

刂 + 半

HSK 3.0Level 7

Definitions

pàn (verb) to judge; to discriminate; to discern

pàn (adjective) clearly distinguishable

Etymology

Phonosemantic compound. 刂 represents the meaning and 半 represents the sound.

Semantic: 刂 Phonetic: 半

About

判 combines 半 on the left and the knife radical 刂 on the right. It is a phonosemantic compound: 刂 suggests the meaning of cutting, while 半 (bàn) supplies the sound. Originally, the character referred to dividing something with a blade. This literal action was metaphorically extended to the cognitive process of separating facts, distinguishing right from wrong, and evaluating evidence. Consequently, its primary meaning shifted from physical cutting to the legal and intellectual acts of judging, deciding, and passing sentence.

Etymology Hide

Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)

Traditional Modern

Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

我判断错了。

Wǒ pànduàn cuò le.

I judged incorrectly.

法官判他三年徒刑。

Fǎguān pàn tā sān nián túxíng.

The judge sentenced him to three years in prison.

我们需要批判性思维。

Wǒmen xūyào pīpànxìng sīwéi.

We need critical thinking.

审判过程非常公正。

Shěnpàn guòchéng fēicháng gōngzhèng.

The trial process is very fair.

判决书已经下来了。

Pànjuéshū yǐjīng xiàlái le.

The judgment document has been issued.

这位裁判的判断很准确。

Zhè wèi cáipàn de pànduàn hěn zhǔnquè.

This referee's judgment is very accurate.

在缺乏证据的情况下，法官难以判决。

Zài quēfá zhèngjù de qíngkuàng xià, fǎguān nányǐ pànjué.

In the absence of evidence, the judge finds it difficult to make a judgment.

经过反复研判，他们终于做出了决定。

Jīngguò fǎnfù yánpàn, tāmen zhōngyú zuòchū le juédìng.

After repeated research and judgment, they finally made a decision.

Related Characters

Component: 刂

Component: 半

判