責

It is a phono-semantic compound, consisting of:

貝 (pae, “shell, money”) as the semantic element;

朿 (cha, “thorn”) as the phonetic element.

Originally, it meant “debt.” Later, the meaning extended to “to press for repayment, to reproach, responsibility, demand.” To represent the specific sense of “debt,” a new character 債 was formed by adding 人 (person) to 責.

Regarding its graphic form:

In small seal script (小篆), it still appeared as 朿 + 貝.

In clerical script (隸書 lìshū), the top component 朿 became compressed and took on a form similar to the top of 靑 (blue).

Common compounds:

책임 (責任) – responsibility, duty

책망 (責望/責罵) – reproach, blame

책벌 (責罰) – punishment, sanction

채책 (債責) – debt and responsibility