判

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(bound form) to differentiate; to distinguish; (bound form) clearly (different); to judge; to decide; to grade; (of a judge) to sentence

Sound it out + =

Formation & memory

Break the character into parts you already know.

Phono-semantic compound (形声字)

刂 meaning “knife” + 半 sound ( bàn )

Components 半刂

judge · Heisig RSH #983

半 half + saber

Keyword method from Heisig's Remembering Simplified Hanzi.

The most common words first — learning a character in context makes it stick.

Word	Pinyin	Meaning
公平审判权	gōng píng shěn pàn quán	the right to a fair trial
和平谈判	hé píng tán pàn	peace negotiations
判断力	pàn duàn lì	ability to judge; judgment
判断语	pàn duàn yǔ	predicate
谈判地位	tán pàn dì wèi	bargaining position
判若两人	pàn ruò liǎng rén	to be a different person; not to be one's usual self
判别式	pàn bié shì	(math.) discriminant (e.g. b²-4ac in the formula for the roots of a quadratic equation)
维持原判	wéi chí yuán pàn	to affirm the original sentence (law)
公判	gōng pàn	public opinion; public announcement of verdict at a trial
通判	tōng pàn	local magistrate
重判	zhòng pàn	major punishment (law)
谈判地	tán pàn dì	place for negotiations
判明	pàn míng	to distinguish; to ascertain
判定	pàn dìng	to judge; to decide; judgment; determination
判然	pàn rán	markedly; clearly
审判长	shěn pàn zhǎng	presiding judge
判官	pàn guān	magistrate (during Tang and Song dynasties); mythological underworld judge
判若云泥	pàn ruò yún ní	as different as heaven and earth (idiom); worlds apart
核谈判	hé tán pàn	nuclear negotiations
审判员	shěn pàn yuán	judge (in court)

Characters sharing the sound component 半 — compare how they read.

Character	Pinyin	Meaning
半 sound part	bàn	half; semi-, incomplete
伴	bàn	companion, comrade, partner; to accompany
胖	pàng	fat, plump, obese; a fat person
叛	pàn	rebel; rebellion; rebellious
拌	bàn	to mix
绊	bàn	a loop of thread; shackles, fetters; to stumble, to trip
衅	xìn	to quarrel, to dispute; a blood sacrifice
泮	pàn	Zhou dynasty school; to disperse, to fall apart
袢	pàn	robe