毒品
dúpǐn · HSK 6
drug
💊 毒品 = poison (毒) + product/item (品); literally poison-goods
毒 means poison or toxic, and 品 means product, item, or goods (the three 口 boxes suggest articles of trade). Together they label narcotics as poison-products — the legal/medical term for illicit drugs.
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.
品 — three 口 (mouth) stacked
品 is an ideogram showing three 口 (mouths or openings) piled together. The repetition of 口 suggests many people, items, or voices, which gave rise to meanings like 'kinds,' 'goods,' 'rank,' and 'to taste/judge.' The triple stacking is a common Chinese device for indicating plurality or variety.