惩罚
chéng fá · HSK 7
to punish
⚖️🔨 sounds like chains fall — what drops on you as punishment
惩 has 心 (heart) at the bottom — punishment strikes the heart. 罚 combines 罒 (net), 言 (words), and 刂 (blade): caught, judged, and cut down.
罚 — net 罒 + words 言 + knife 刂
罚 (traditional 罰) combines 罒 (net), 言 (words/speech), and 刂 (knife), depicting punishment for verbal offenses — catching wrongdoers in a net and applying penalty. Originally referred to lighter punishments by reprimand, contrasted with 刑 for corporal punishment. Today it broadly means to punish or fine.