entries → 局
TSUMUGU · TOCFL 2 (est.) · 字
局 character · TOCFL 2 (est.)
局 ＝ 尺 ＋ 口
ㄐㄩˊ · jú
noun — a confined space; a situation; an office; a game (棋局)

字源 FORM — what the parts do

尺義a measure — the bounded extent overhead
口義an enclosed mouth — the cramped space inside
A mouth (口) hemmed in under a measure (尺): a space marked off, cramped. From the bounded board: the game played on it, 棋局; the marked-off situation, 局面, 局勢; and the bureau that holds a domain, 郵局, 警局.

故事 STORY — a scene to remember it by

一道尺度（尺）壓下來，把一個口（口）圈死——侷促的一局。
A measure (尺) presses down, boxing a mouth (口) in tight — the cramped enclosure.
字源記憶法
意 · Meanings
(本義)棋局、局促— a game board; cramped
→局面、局勢— situation常用
→郵局、警局— bureau, office常用
(本義) original meaning · → ⇒ each arrow = one more step of extension
關 · Related
居jūshares 尸/尺 on top — 居 sets 古 underneath; 局 sets a hemmed-in 口侷júthe explicit cramping — 侷 adds a person 亻; both say tight, confined