贬值
biǎn zhí · HSK 7
to become devaluated
📉💰 贬 (belittle) + 值 (value) = value shrinks, depreciate
贬 means to diminish or demote, 值 means value or worth. Together they literally say diminished-value. The biǎn sound echoes 'ban' as in banning high prices — money loses its punch.
值 — person radical 亻 + 直 (straight/upright)
A semantic-phonetic compound. The person radical 亻 gives the meaning, while 直 (straight, upright) supplies the sound zhí. Originally referring to a person standing in for duty or watch, it extended to mean 'worth,' 'value,' and 'to be on duty.'