吸毒
xīdú · HSK 6
take drugs
💉 xī = inhale/suck + dú = poison — literally sucking poison
The compound breaks down transparently: 吸 means to inhale or suck in, and 毒 means poison or toxin. Together they form the blunt literal description: inhaling poison.
吸 — mouth radical 口 + reach 及 (phonetic)
吸 is a phono-semantic compound. The mouth radical 口 signals the meaning—an action done with the mouth—while 及 (jí) hints at the original sound. It depicts drawing air or liquid in through the mouth, giving the modern senses 'inhale, suck, absorb'.
毒 — grass 屮 on top + 母 (mother/below)
Originally an associative compound showing a toxic plant (the 屮/生 element on top) over 毋, suggesting something harmful that must be forbidden. The early meaning was 'poisonous herb,' which broadened to 'poison,' 'toxic,' and figuratively 'cruel' or 'malicious.' The modern form keeps this top-plant + bottom-warning structure.