惩处
chéng chǔ · HSK 7
to punish
⚖️ CHENG-CHU sounds like charge you — the court will charge you and punish
征 (zhēng, march/levy) plus 处 (chǔ, handle/deal with) — authorities march in to deal with you. Chéng chǔ echoes 'charge you,' linking the sound to a courtroom sentencing.
处 — 夂 (foot) + 几 (low table/stool)
Originally depicted a person stopping (夂, an inverted foot) beside a stool (几), suggesting someone settling down in a place. From 'to dwell/stay' the meaning broadened to 'place, location' (chù) and 'to handle, deal with' (chǔ). The simplified form drops the older 虍 top found in 處.