judgement

(half) Same-ON + (sword)
★★★☆☆
7 strokes
This used to mean "Official seal or stamp which stamps a document, making that document official." I guess a lot of those documents were the judgements of the ruler, because nowadays the kanji just means "to judge".

Onyomi

HAN

Mnemonic

HAN Solo judged the quality of his sword by cutting a Wookie in half.

Kunyomi

わか*る A lot of dictionaries still say 判る is a synonym of 分かる. Not really. Don't bother learning 判る.
☆☆☆☆☆

Jukugo

批判(ひはん) する

criticism ★★★☆☆
(call bullshit on) + (judgement) = 批判 (criticism)

criticism, like "I call bullshit on the government!" or "I call bullshit on your opinion of an athlete!"

判断(はんだん) する

judge ★★★☆☆
(judgement) + (decision/judgement/refuse) = 判断 (judge)

to judge, to deliver a verdict - but also judge like 'I wouldn't wear that skirt if I was her.'

判子(はんこ)

seal ★★★☆☆ KUN ON
(judgement) + (child) = 判子 (seal)

The little stamps that people here use instead of signatures on official documents.

評判(ひょうばん)

reputation ★★☆☆☆
(art or literary criticism) + (judgement) = 評判 (reputation)

Lookalikes

Meaning Hint Radical
accompany PERSON
judgement SWORD

The PERSON accompanies you because he's your buddy.
I say you owe me fi' dollas, and my SWORD makes it official.

Synonyms

criticize
批判    非難(批難)   
judge someone
偏見    判断    先入観    判決    裁く    審査