罪 (zuì)

guilt; crime; fault; blame; sin

Etymology

Phonosemantic compound. 网 represents the meaning and 非 represents the sound. Based on the original meaning "fishing net". The current meaning, originally written 辠, is a phonetic loan.

Shuowen Jiezi

《說文》:“罪,捕魚竹网。从网、非。秦以罪為辠字。”

Original meaning

fishing net

Components