TSUMUGU · TOCFL 3 (est.) · 字
僅
僅 ＝ 亻 ＋ 堇
ㄐㄧㄣˇ · jǐn
adverb — only, barely
字源 FORM — what the parts do
亻義a person
堇聲jǐn — gives the soundthe donor of the 謹、勤、嘆 series
A person (亻) beside 堇 jǐn, which carries the sound, an exact match. The first word is barely able — just enough and no more; the everyday job is only: 僅僅、不僅.
意 · Meanings
(本義)勉強夠— barely — just enough
→僅僅、不僅— only; not only (不僅)常用
(本義) original meaning · → ⇒ each arrow = one more step of extension