折

bend, break

折 is composed of the BuShou of 手 (hand) and 斤 (catty). 手 here is actually the picture of a broken wood, 斤 is the picture of an axe, so 折 depicts an axe breaking a wood.

Vocabulary of 折

  • 挫折 (setback)
  • 折磨 (torment)
  • 曲折 (winding)

Related Characters: