TSUMUGU · TOCFL 1 (est.) · 字
文
ㄨㄣˊ · wén
noun — writing; language; culture
字源 FORM — what the parts do
文形a standing figure, patterns marked on the chest
A figure stands square, chest marked with crossing lines — tattooed patterns. Pattern is the root: lines on skin, then lines of strokes — writing 文字; then everything patterned and polished — 文章、文化、文明. The skin sense lives on in 紋.
故事 STORY — a scene to remember it by
胸口的紋路一道交一道，火光下看得清清楚楚。
Line crosses line on the chest, clear in the firelight.
字源記憶法
意 · Meanings
(本義)花紋（後作紋）— pattern, markings (now 紋)
→文字、文章— writing; composition常用
⇒文化、文明— culture, civilization — the patterned life常用
(本義) original meaning · → ⇒ each arrow = one more step of extension