TSUMUGU · TOCFL 2 (est.) · 字
主
ㄓㄨˇ · zhǔ
noun/adj — master, host; main
字源 FORM — what the parts do
主形a lamp on its stand, the dot its flame — the old graph of the lamp-flame (now 炷)
A lamp on its stand, the dot on top its flame — the original word is the lamp-flame, now written 炷. The one point of light a whole room turns toward became the master, the host, the main thing: 主人、主要.
故事 STORY — a scene to remember it by
屋裡黑，只有那一點燈火（主）亮著，大家圍著它坐。
A dark room, one lamp-flame (主) burning — everyone sits turned toward it.
字源記憶法
意 · Meanings
(本義)燈火（後作炷）— the lamp-flame — now written 炷
(假借)主人、主持— master, host — the borrowed branch常用
→主要、主張— main; to hold a position
(本義) original meaning · → ⇒ each arrow = one more step of extension