TSUMUGU · TOCFL 4 (est.) · 字
准
准 ＝ 冫 ＋ 隹
ㄓㄨㄣˇ · zhǔn
verb — to allow, approve
字源 FORM — what the parts do
冫空worn remainder of water (氵)
隹聲remainder of 隼 sǔn — gives the sound隼 is the falcon, 隹 with a marker stroke; the stroke fell away in the worn copy
I≠sǔn → zhǔn — s thickens to zh
A worn copy of 準: centuries of clerks' hands wore the water (氵) down to two strokes (冫) and dropped 隼's marker stroke. 準 is still water — dead level, the standard. Officials kept the worn copy for their own verb: what measures up to the standard gets the stamp — 准許、批准. Taiwan splits the pair: 準 for standards and accuracy, 准 for permission.
意 · Meanings
(本義)準的俗寫——水平、標準— the worn copy of 準 — level, standard
→准許、批准— to allow, approve — measured against the standard and stamped常用
(本義) original meaning · → ⇒ each arrow = one more step of extension
關 · Related
準zhǔnthe full form — water 氵 intact; standards keep it, approvals take 准淮huáithe lookalike — 淮 keeps all three water drops, the river name
演 · Evolution
準（氵＋隼聲，「水平」）在公文字裡磨損：氵磨成冫，隼磨成隹。磨出來的字落腳在官府，專管「准許」。
準 (氵 + 隼聲, "level water") wore down in document script: 氵 to 冫, 隼 to 隹. The worn form settled into official use for "approve".