TSUMUGU · TOCFL C1 (est.) · 字
陛
陛 ＝ 阝 ＋ 坒
ㄅㄧˋ · bì
noun — the steps to the throne (in 陛下, Your Majesty)
字源 FORM — what the parts do
阝義a mound, terraced into steps (阜)
坒聲bì — gives the sound比 over 土 — earth banked level
The mound on the left (阝, from 阜) cut into rising steps; 坒 bì — 比 over earth (土), ground banked level — carries the sound. These are the steps up to the throne. 陛下, beneath the steps, addresses the one above them: Your Majesty.
故事 STORY — a scene to remember it by
一級級台階（阝）堆起來，盡頭是御座——稱呼的人站在階下（陛下）。
Step on step (阝) banked up to the throne at the top — and the speaker stands below them, 陛下.
字源記憶法
意 · Meanings
(本義)陛— the steps to the throne
→陛下— Your Majesty — addressed from below the steps常用
(本義) original meaning · → ⇒ each arrow = one more step of extension
關 · Related
階＝ ＋ 皆jiēthe everyday step — 階 sets 皆 on the mound for an ordinary stair; 陛 is the throne's阜fùthe bare mound on the left — terraced ground