TSUMUGU · TOCFL B2 (est.) · 字
塌
塌 ＝ 土 ＋ 沓
ㄊㄚ · tā
verb — to collapse, cave in; to sink, droop
字源 FORM — what the parts do
沓聲tà — gives the soundpiled-up water, stacking layers
{d,t}ITtà → tā — the layer-piled sound worn flat
Earth (土) gives way and comes down — to collapse. 沓 tà carries the sound, the piled-up layers folding flat to tā. A wall, a roof, a riverbank: what was held up lets go and sinks: 倒塌、塌陷.
故事 STORY — a scene to remember it by
雨下太久，土牆撐不住，一截一截往下（沓）落平。
The rain runs too long; the earth (土) wall lets go and drops away layer by layer.
字源記憶法
意 · Meanings
(本義)倒塌、塌陷— to collapse, cave in常用
→塌方— to landslide; a section gives way
→塌下臉、垂頭喪氣— to droop, sink — a face falling
(本義) original meaning · → ⇒ each arrow = one more step of extension
關 · Related
塔＝ ＋ 荅tǎthe lookalike — 塔 stands a pagoda up, 塌 lets the wall down; both wear 榻tàshares — a low couch, the same piled sound