TSUMUGU · C1 (est.) · 字
堪
ㄎㄢ · kān
verb — to be able to bear; to be capable of
字源 FORM — what the parts do
IFshèn → kān — initial and rime both shifted
Ground (土) that swells up and holds firm — and from ground that bears weight, the sense "to be able to bear, to withstand." 甚 shèn carries the sound, the same donor under 勘 and 戡, worn to kān. From bearing up: 堪用、不堪.
故事 STORY — a scene to remember it by
一塊隆起的地（土），重物壓上去，紋絲不動——撐得住。
A swell of ground (土), a weight set on it — it doesn't budge; it bears.
字源記憶法
意 · Meanings
(本義)堪用、堪當— able to bear, fit for常用
→不堪— unable to bear, unbearable常用
→難堪— hard to bear — embarrassed
(本義) original meaning · → ⇒ each arrow = one more step of extension
關 · Related
甚shènthe sound half alone — "very, what"; 堪 adds the earth 勘kānshares the donor — to investigate, collate (力)