TSUMUGU · TOCFL 1 (est.) · 字
到
ㄉㄠˋ · dào
verb — to arrive, reach
字源 FORM — what the parts do
Tdāo → dào — tone only
至 — an arrow dropped out of its arc, standing point-down in the ground: arrival itself. 刀 dāo adds the sound, one tone off. Together they write to arrive — 到了、到家; after another verb, the action touching bottom: 買到、找到、聽到.
故事 STORY — a scene to remember it by
嗖的一聲，箭尖插進土裡（至），尾羽還在抖——到了。
A hiss, and the arrowhead stands in the soil (至), fletching still shivering — arrived.
字源記憶法
意 · Meanings
(本義)到達、到了— to arrive常用
→買到、找到— the result tail — the action reaching its end常用
→周到— thorough — care that reaches everywhere
(本義) original meaning · → ⇒ each arrow = one more step of extension