entries → 如
TSUMUGU · TOCFL 1 (est.) · 字
如 character · TOCFL 1 (est.)
如 ＝ 女 ＋ 口
ㄖㄨˊ · rú
verb — to be like; conj — if

字源 FORM — what the parts do

女義a woman
口義a mouth — orders spoken
A woman (女) and a mouth (口) — 說文 reads it as following what is spoken: to comply (從隨也). From following: to go along as, to be like (如同、例如) — and the supposing that follows from a likeness: if (如果、假如).
意 · Meanings
(本義)依從（如命）— to follow, comply
→如同、例如— to be like; for instance常用
⇒如果、假如— if — supposing it goes like that
(本義) original meaning · → ⇒ each arrow = one more step of extension
關 · Related
恕shù如 set over a heart — fellow-feeling, taking another as like oneself