伐 (fá) - to cut down & to attack

伐Tone 2

fá ｜ 6 strokes ｜ radical: 亻

恩丰

伐 · fá

to cut down;

to attack;

to strike;

military expedition;

to boast of one's achievements

to cut downto attackto strike

Usage highlights

to cut down treesto attack and punishmilitary expeditionto boast of meritto fell treesto chop and attack

Synonyms

  • 砍— to chop, to cut
  • 攻— to attack
  • 征— to campaign

Antonyms

Usage & contexts

Examples

  • He cut down a tree (伐木).
  • The army launched an attack (讨伐).
  • They went on a punitive expedition (征伐).
  • He boasted of his merits (伐功).

Collocations

  • to cut down trees(伐木)
  • to attack and punish(讨伐)
  • military expedition(征伐)
  • to boast of merit(伐功)
  • to fell trees(砍伐)
  • to chop and attack(砍伐)

Idioms

  • Punish with the pen and attack with the tongue(口诛笔伐)
  • Cut down trees to build boats(伐木为舟)
  • Attack the north and strike the south(北伐南征)
  • Boast of one's achievements and exaggerate one's ability(矜功伐能)

Cultural background

FAQ
  • Originally depicted a man with a weapon (戈) attacking another, representing military action.
  • In ancient texts, often used in the context of punitive expeditions and cutting down trees.
  • Extended meaning includes boasting, as in claiming credit for military achievements.

FAQ