惩 chéng to discipline
to discipline; to punish; to warn
How to remember 惩: 征 to summon + 心 heart = to discipline. The headteacher decides to summon the pranksters to her office, and though her heart is soft, she knows she has to discipline them.
Component breakdown
惩 = 征 to summon + 心 heart
- 征 to summon
- 心 heart
The headteacher decides to summon the pranksters to her office, and though her heart is soft, she knows she has to discipline them.
How it is used
- To punish/discipline - 惩罚 (chéngfá) to punish, 惩处 (chéngchǔ) mete out punishment, 严惩 (yánchéng) punish severely, 惩戒 (chéngjiè) discipline as a warning.
- 惩前毖后 (chéngqián-bìhòu) = learn from past mistakes to avoid future ones. 惩 stresses punishing as correction/deterrent; formal register.