伐

Concrete: To cut down, fell, or clear (e.g., trees, brush).

Military/Political: To attack, strike down, or subjugate; specifically an offensive strike intended to neutralize or remove a target.

Transitive verb requiring an object. High-register for "striking down."

Unlike 戰 (general warfare or battle), 伐 implies a specific offensive strike. In political contexts, it often carries a connotation of legitimacy, describing a "punitive expedition"—the rightful removal of a rebellious vassal or the "pruning" of a malignancy from the state.

Fanqie reading: 房越; Tang-period reading: *bhiæt.

Combines 人 (person) and 戈 (dagger-axe), centering on the act of striking or severing.