TSUMUGU · TOCFL 2 (est.) · 字
保
保 ＝ 亻 ＋ 呆
ㄅㄠˇ · bǎo
verb — to protect, keep; to guarantee
字源 FORM — what the parts do
亻義a person, standing
呆義a child (子) on the back — the carrying arms worn into the extra strokesthe same strokes as 呆 dāi by accident; here it is the bundled child
A grown-up (亻) with a child on the back — the right side is 子 plus the carrying arms, worn into the shape of 呆. Carrying a child is keeping it safe: 保護 protects, 保證 promises it stays so, 保持 keeps it that way.
故事 STORY — a scene to remember it by
孩子趴在大人（亻）背上，兩隻小手環著脖子——走再遠也穩穩的。
The child rides the grown-up's (亻) back, small arms around the neck — steady however far the road.
字源記憶法
意 · Meanings
(本義)揹著、養護— to carry and care for a child
→保護、保守— to protect; to guard常用
⇒保證、保險— to guarantee; insurance — safety promised
(本義) original meaning · → ⇒ each arrow = one more step of extension