Origin

This character combines a hand radical on the left, which indicates an action done with the hands, with the component 考 on the right that serves as a sound hint for how to pronounce the character. The hand radical suggests physical action, while the sound component ties the character to its pronunciation. Together, they create a character meaning to beat or torture, actions performed by hand. The specific meaning developed from the physical, violent nature of the action rather than from the sound hint itself.