TSUMUGU · TOCFL B1 (est.) · 字
判
判 ＝ 刂 ＋ 半
ㄆㄢˋ · pàn
verb — to judge, decide; to tell apart, divide
字源 FORM — what the parts do
刂義a knife
{b,p,m}ITbàn → pàn — the {b,p,m} crossing, tone too
A knife (刂) cuts a thing in two — to divide, and so to tell apart and pass judgment. 半 bàn carries the sound, the initial slipping across the {b,p,m} row to pàn, and its own "split in half" suits the cut: 判斷、判決.
故事 STORY — a scene to remember it by
刀（刂）一落，東西分成兩半（半）——是非也就分了開來。
The knife (刂) falls and the thing splits in two (半) — and right from wrong divides with it.
字源記憶法
意 · Meanings
(本義)判分、判別— to divide, tell apart
→判斷、判決— to judge, decide常用
⇒判刑— to sentence
(本義) original meaning · → ⇒ each arrow = one more step of extension