劌

General: To cut, injure, or stab.

Specialized: In legal or punitive contexts, refers specifically to facial mutilation, such as slicing the cheeks or removing the nose.

Primarily functions as a transitive verb. In classical shorthand, the object (the person being mutilated) is frequently omitted and must be inferred from context.

[DISTINITIONS]

Carries a more violent, surgical, or punitive weight than 傷 (generic wound) or 刻 (carve/engrave). It differs from 切 (a straight slice) or 割 (a dividing cut) in the specific nature of the action.

Simplified variant: U+523F.

Combines the "knife" radical (刂) with 句 (hook/bend), suggesting a carving or scooping motion rather than a straight cut.

If the text involves crime, punishment, or official sentencing, prioritize "mutilate" over general terms for cutting. Note that some dictionary glosses mentioning "stick on" are likely errors; in standard classical usage, the glyph is consistently destructive.