判
pàn · HSK 6
to sentence
⚖️ Half a knife cuts the verdict — 半 (half) + 刂 (knife radical)
The left side 半 means half and gives the sound pàn. The right side 刂 is the knife radical, evoking a sharp decision that cuts one way or the other. A judge splits a case in two with a blade of logic.
判 — half 半 (phonetic) + knife 刂 (semantic)
判 combines 半 'half' with 刂 'knife', literally suggesting cutting something in two. The knife radical gives the meaning of dividing or judging, while 半 provides the sound. From 'splitting apart' it extended to 'discriminate, judge, decide'.