究 (jiù) — to probe to the very end

entries → 究

TSUMUGU · TOCFL 2 (est.) · 字

究 character · TOCFL 2 (est.)

究＝穴＋九

ㄐㄧㄡˋ · jiù

verb — to probe to the very end

字源 FORM — what the parts do

穴義a cave mouth

九聲jiǔ — gives the sound

Tjiǔ → jiù — tone only

A cave (穴) overhead, 九 jiǔ below for the sound, one tone away. Together they write going to the very end — the cave followed to its last wall: 研究、追究、究竟.

故事 STORY — a scene to remember it by

火把往前伸，洞（穴）越走越窄——到底了。

The torch reaches forward; the cave (穴) narrows and narrows — the end.

字源記憶法

意 · Meanings

(本義)窮究——走到底— to go to the very end, exhaust

→研究、追究— to probe, investigate常用

→究竟— after all — at bottom

(本義) original meaning · → ⇒ each arrow = one more step of extension