有毒
yoǔ dú · HSK 5
poisonous
☠️ 有 (have) + 毒 (poison) = has poison → poisonous
有毒 decomposes literally: 有 means 'to have/possess' and 毒 means 'poison/toxic'. Together they form an adjective meaning 'poisonous' or 'toxic'. The 毒 character itself combines 母 (mother) under 生/丰 elements, historically tied to harmful plants.
有 — hand 𠂇 + moon/meat 月
Originally depicted a hand holding a piece of meat (月 here is the 'meat' radical, not moon), expressing the idea of possessing something. Over time the meaning broadened from 'to hold/possess' to the general sense of 'to have' or 'there is/exists'.
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.