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伐 (fá) — to cut down (a tree), to fell; to attack, to send an expedition against

Definition

伐 is a literary/classical verb with two main senses: to fell (a tree) and to launch a punitive expedition against (a state). In modern use it survives mainly in set compounds like 砍伐 (logging) and 讨伐 (to crusade against), not as a standalone verb.

verb
to cut down (a tree)to fellto attackto send an expedition against

Examples

  • 。
    Gōng rén men yòng jù zi kǎn fá le nà kē lǎo shù.
    The workers cut down that old tree with a saw.
  • 伐。
    Gǔ dài zhū hóu jīng cháng xiāng hù zhēng fá.
    Feudal lords in ancient times often attacked each other.
  • 。
    Guò dù kǎn fá huì dǎo zhì shuǐ tǔ liú shī.
    Excessive logging leads to soil erosion.

Origin

Compound ideograph
六书liùshū
会意huìyì

Two or more meaningful parts placed together so that their meanings combine into a new one.

伐 combines 人 (person) and 戈 (spear), drawing a spear at a person's neck to show cutting or striking.

Appears in
Military & DefenseTrees & Forest

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