TSUMUGU · TOCFL 5 (est.) · 字
堅
堅 ＝ 臤 ＋ 土
ㄐㄧㄢ · jiān
adj — hard; firm; solid
字源 FORM — what the parts do
臤聲qiān — a hand (又) gripping fast over 臣; lends sound and the sense of holding firm
{j,q,x}Iqiān → jiān — the {j,q,x} crossing
A firm grip (臤 qiān) pressed onto earth (土) — 說文: 剛也, packed hard and unyielding. Hard ground first, then anything that holds: solid 堅固, holding firm 堅持, staunch 堅強.
故事 STORY — a scene to remember it by
手（又）使勁按住，土（土）夯得結結實實，按不下去。
A hand (又) bears down; the earth (土) is packed so hard it won't give.
字源記憶法
意 · Meanings
(本義)堅— hard, solid常用
→堅固— firm, sturdy常用
→堅持— to persist — to hold firm
→堅強— staunch, strong
(本義) original meaning · → ⇒ each arrow = one more step of extension
關 · Related
強qiáng堅強 — 堅 holds fast, 強 pushes hard臤qiānthe firm grip up top, lending sound and sense