TSUMUGU · TOCFL 2 (est.) · 字
示
ㄕˋ · shì
verb — to show, indicate
字源 FORM — what the parts do
示形rendered whole — an altar stand in one telling, heaven's hanging lights in the other
The old graph carries two tellings: a stone altar stand with the offering set out on it, or 上 "above" with three streams hanging down — sun, moon, stars, heaven's signs on show. Either way, a thing set out to be seen: 表示、顯示、指示. As a radical it keeps the altar's side: 神、祭、祖.
故事 STORY — a scene to remember it by
祭品擺上石臺，擺正了——天看，人也看。
The offering set on the stone stand, squared — for heaven to see, and everyone else too.
字源記憶法
意 · Meanings
(本義)擺出來給看— to set out to be seen
→表示、顯示— to show, express常用
⇒指示、告示— to point out; a notice
(本義) original meaning · → ⇒ each arrow = one more step of extension