fell · attack

1. Origins, structure, and basic meaning

• Structure: 伐 relates to felling trees or attacking an enemy; its on reading is ばつ.
• Basic usage: 伐採 means felling or logging, while 討伐 means using force to subdue an opposing group or target.

2. Common pitfalls and similar expressions

• Sound changes in compounds
  • 伐採 is ばっさい, and 討伐 is とうばつ.
  • 伐採 includes a small っ rather than retaining ばつ unchanged.
• The target of the action
  • 木を伐採する means to fell a tree; 山賊を討伐する in a story means to subdue bandits.
  • Their targets differ, so these words should not be extended to every act of cutting with scissors or an ordinary argument.