kill, special, different

殊 is composed of 歹 and 朱. 歹 carries the meaning of death, while 朱 depicts a tree with a mark painted on its trunk. Before felling a tree, the ancients would paint a mark on the trunk of the tree to be cut. After a tree is felled, it dies. Therefore, the original meaning of 殊 is to sever or to kill. In addition, a marked tree is different from ordinary trees. From this, 殊 also carries the meaning of distinction or difference.