伐 fá cut down

源How it came to be

A dagger-axe, the dagger block, held level with a person's neck. An execution rather than a fight: the blade is already at the throat, and nothing in the drawing moves.

用How it is used

• 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.

字Characters built with 伐

• 阀 valve

词Words with 伐

• 步伐bùfápaceHSK 9
• 砍伐kǎnfáto hewHSK 9