How to Write 判 (pàn) — Meaning “judge / sentence / distinguish”

Imagine a judge (判) using a knife (刂) to split a case into two halves (半) to decide the outcome. This picture helps you connect the "half" and "knife" parts to the meaning of judging or sentencing.

Pay attention to the stroke order: first write left part 半 (dot, left-falling, horizontal, horizontal, vertical), then right part 刂 (vertical, vertical hook). A common mistake is making the right vertical hook too curved; keep it almost straight with a small hook at the bottom. Also ensure the left side is slightly wider than the right side.

判 has 半 (half) on the left, meaning judge or distinguish; 刊 (kān) has 干 (dry/dry) on the left and means to publish or engrave; 刎 (wěn) has 勿 (do not) on the left and means to cut the throat. Visually, the left components are different, and their meanings are unrelated. For example, 判 is used in 判断 (judgment), while 刊 appears in 刊物 (publication).

判 is common in legal contexts, such as 判刑 (to sentence) and 法官判决 (judge's verdict). It also appears in everyday words like 判断 (to judge) and 谈判 (negotiation), and in sports as 裁判 (referee). Culturally, 判 carries a sense of fairness and final decision, often used when a clear separation of right and wrong is needed.

Common words containing 判 include: 判断 (pàn duàn) — judge / judgment; 谈判 (tán pàn) — negotiation; 裁判 (cái pàn) — Referee; judge; umpire.