刑

xíng
#1,085 most
frequent character
punishment, penalty, sentence

Character breakdown

Source: Make Me a Hanzi.

刑 puts 刂 knife with 开, an empty part that was once 井. The first meaning was to punish. It grew to punishment or sentence, and then torture.

刑 as a component in other characters

sound3 characters
型荆硎

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