TSUMUGU · TOCFL 2 (est.) · 字
克
ㄎㄜˋ · kè
verb — to overcome, subdue; (measure) gram
字源 FORM — what the parts do
克形rendered bare — origin contested
The old graph carries two tellings: a man bowing under a load carried on the shoulders, holding it up — to bear, then to master what bears down on you; or a head fitted with a helmet (冂 the frame, 皮 the hide), armored to meet the blow. Either way the sense lands on overcome, subdue: 克服、克敵. The weight unit gram (公克、千克) is a borrowed sound, nothing to do with bearing.
故事 STORY — a scene to remember it by
肩上頂著沉甸甸的擔子，腿沒軟——壓得住，就贏了。
A crushing load on the shoulders, the legs holding firm — bear it and you have beaten it.
字源記憶法
意 · Meanings
(本義)克服、戰勝— to overcome, subdue常用
→克制— to restrain, hold in check
→公克、千克— gram — the weight unit, a borrowed sound常用
(本義) original meaning · → ⇒ each arrow = one more step of extension