TSUMUGU · B1 (est.) · 字
敬
敬 ＝ 茍 ＋ 攴
ㄐㄧㄥˋ · jìng
verb — to respect, revere; to offer respectfully
字源 FORM — what the parts do
茍聲jì — gives the sound; also the meaning: self-restraint, drawing oneself up alertNOT 苟 (gǒu, careless) — 茍 has the 羊-like top, no horizontal bar
FTjì → jìng — the rime opens to -ng, tone shifts
攴義a hand with a stick — urging the alertness on
茍 jì is a person drawing themselves up watchful and self-controlled — it carries both the sound, worn toward jìng, and the meaning. A hand with a stick (攴) presses that alertness on. Watchful and self-checked before another becomes respect: 尊敬 to revere, 敬業 to take one's work seriously.
故事 STORY — a scene to remember it by
雙手捧杯，腰一彎，恭恭敬敬把茶遞了過去。
Cup held in both hands, a bow at the waist — the tea offered with full respect.
字源記憶法
意 · Meanings
(本義)恭敬、警惕— reverent, watchful常用
→尊敬、敬重— to respect, revere常用
→敬茶、敬酒— to offer respectfully (tea, wine)
(本義) original meaning · → ⇒ each arrow = one more step of extension
關 · Related
苟gǒuthe lookalike that flips the meaning — 苟 (careless, if-only) has a flat grass-top 艹; inside 敬 has the alert 羊-style top, no bar across