entries → 寧
TSUMUGU · TOCFL A2 (est.) · 字
寧 character · TOCFL A2 (est.)
寧 ＝ 宀 ＋ 心 ＋ 皿
ㄋㄧㄥˊ · níng/nìng
adj/adv — peaceful, at ease; (nìng) rather, would sooner

字源 FORM — what the parts do

宀義a roof, the home
心義a heart at ease beneath it
皿形a vessel set out on the table 丁 below
A roof (宀) over a heart (心), with a vessel (皿) on its stand (丁) below — the home settled, the meal laid, the mind at rest. The whole graph means at peace: 安寧、寧靜. Read nìng, it turns to choosing — to rather one thing than another: 寧願.

故事 STORY — a scene to remember it by

屋裡（宀）一顆心（心）落定，案上（丁）器皿（皿）擺齊——日子安穩了。
Under the roof (宀) the heart (心) settles, the vessel (皿) stands ready on its table (丁) — the household at peace.
字源記憶法
意 · Meanings
níng
(本義)安寧— peaceful, settled常用
→寧靜— quiet, tranquil
nìng
(引申)寧願、寧可— would rather, sooner常用
(本義) original meaning · → ⇒ each arrow = one more step of extension
關 · Related
寍níngthe older core — roof, heart and vessel before the table 丁 joined審＝ 宀 ＋ 釆shěnthe lookalike — both wear 宀, but 審 sets 番 below where 寧 sets 心皿