罚款
fá kuǎn · HSK 5
to fine
💰 罚款 = 罚 (punish) + 款 (sum of money)
罚 means to punish or penalize, and 款 refers to a sum of money or funds. Together they form the compound meaning a monetary penalty — literally a punishment-sum.
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.