判

Formed as a phono-semantic compound:

刀 (knife, blade) — semantic component, indicating cutting or separating.

半 (half, divided) — phonetic component, also reinforcing the meaning of division.

Together, 判 depicts the idea of cutting something into halves, extended metaphorically to making distinctions, judgments, or decisions.

First attested in the Han dynasty seal script (篆書) period.

Closely related to the meaning of “division” and later extended to legal judgment, verdicts, and rational decision-making.

Semantic range:

- to divide, separate (가르다, 나누다);

- to judge, to evaluate (판단하다);

- to decide, to conclude (결정하다);

- legal judgment or verdict (판결하다).

판단 (判斷) — judgment, discernment

판결 (判決) — court verdict, judgment

재판 (裁判) — trial, litigation

구분 (區分 / 區判) — division, classification

심판 (審判) — judgment, referee, trial

선고판결 (宣告判決) — formal legal ruling

In traditional Confucian administration and law, 判 was central to the act of distinguishing right from wrong and rendering fair decisions. It reflects the ideal of governance where clarity and justice are achieved through careful discernment.

In Buddhist translations into Chinese, 判 sometimes appears in the context of “classifying” teachings or dividing concepts into categories (判教, “systematization of doctrines”).

The character thus bridges practical legal authority and philosophical discernment.