strike, hit, knock, pound, dozen
打 centers on forceful contact: striking, hitting, knocking, or pounding. The 'dozen' sense is a separate loanword application that does not share the same conceptual center.
打 combines 扌 (hand) with 丁, which likely contributes the sound and may suggest a nail or striking action. The exact historical development of 丁's role is uncertain.
A hand 扌 gripping a nail-like 丁 shape: picture hammering a nail with your hand to strike, hit, or pound.
For ダ, imagine striking a drum with a loud 'da!' sound: da -> ダ, and your hand hits the drum.
to hit; to strike; to knock; to beat; to punch; to slap; to tap; to bang; to clap; to pound
to hit (someone); to strike; to beat
launch (of a rocket, satellite, etc.); lift-off; shooting off (fireworks); (fireworks) display
blow; shock; strike; damage
safe hit
(preparatory) meeting; briefing session; (making) advance arrangements
repeated blows; striking repeatedly; barrage
end; close; finish; truncation; discontinuance; closure; cancellation; breaking off; aborting
batting line-up; batting order
batter's box; one's turn at bat
batter
pinch-hitting; pinch hitter
runs batted in; RBI
home run
batting average
hitting (a ball with a bat, racket, golf club, etc.); batting; batted ball; struck ball
break in the deadlock
overthrow; defeat; bringing down; knockdown
breaking down; defeating; abolishing
driving; pounding in; shooting into; implantation; invasion
to drive in (a nail, stake, etc.); to hammer in
value; worth; merit
percussion; tapping; examining by percussion
heavy blow; thump; wallop; belt; whack
clicking one's tongue; tut-tut
blow; hit (on the body); beating
to confide; to reveal; to disclose; to lay bare; to speak frankly; to open (one's heart)
hit; strike; blow
to emboss
two-base hit; double
single combat; duel; one-on-one fight
percussion instrument
batting order; batting line-up
to launch; to shoot up; to hit (a ball) high
to stop; to abort; to discontinue; to close
times at bat
negation; denial; negative
to deny; to contradict
reaching a peak; reaching the limit; plateauing; maxing out
long hit; slugging; extra-base hit
exchange of blows; long rally
three-base hit; triple
sacrifice (bunt or fly)
batting power
stroke; blow
bottoming out
to knock together; to strike against each other; to clash
calculating; mercenary; selfish; self-interested
heavy blow; heavy hit