抨 (pēng): to attack (in words); to critic…

Meanings

报纸猛烈抨击了这家公司的污染行为。

Bàozhǐ měngliè pēngjī le zhèjiā gōngsī de wūrǎn xíngwéi.

The newspaper sharply criticized the company's pollution.

许多人抨击这项不公平的政策。

Xǔduō rén pēngjī zhèxiàng bùgōng píng de zhèngcè.

Many people lashed out at this unfair policy.

usage

Almost always used in 抨击 (to attack verbally). It is a strong word for public, pointed criticism, common in news and commentary.

radical

扌 shǒu

hand

The hand radical (left-side form of 手); the original sense was to strike or flick, which broadens to the figurative "hit out at" of verbal attack.

phonetic

平 píng

flat; level

Provides the reading pēng; it works as the sound element and adds no meaning to the idea of attacking.

抨 pēng