毒
dú · HSK 5
poison
☠️ 毒 = 生 (grow) over 母 (mother) — toxic plant overtaking its root
Originally depicted a harmful plant growing wildly. The top resembles 生 (growth) and the bottom 母 (mother/source), suggesting something that overgrows its origin into poison. Also used for narcotics in modern Chinese.
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.