entries → 徒
TSUMUGU · C1 (est.) · 字
徒 character · C1 (est.)
徒 ＝ 彳 ＋ 土
ㄊㄨˊ · tú
noun — a follower, disciple; on foot; in vain

字源 FORM — what the parts do

彳義a step — walking
土聲tǔ — gives the soundthe ground walked on
Ttǔ → tú — tone shifts off the donor
Walking (彳) over the ground (土) — going on foot. 土 tǔ also carries the sound. From the one who walks behind a master came 徒弟 the disciple; from bare walking, 徒手 empty-handed and 徒然 to no end.

故事 STORY — a scene to remember it by

弟子赤腳（彳）踩在土（土）上，跟著師父走遠路。
A disciple walks the road barefoot (彳) on the bare earth (土), following the master.
字源記憶法
意 · Meanings
(本義)徒步— on foot
→徒弟— a disciple, apprentice常用
⇒徒刑— imprisonment
⇒徒然、徒勞— in vain; for nothing
(本義) original meaning · → ⇒ each arrow = one more step of extension
關 · Related
徙xǐthe lookalike — 徙 wears 止 over 龰 (a moving foot) for migrate; 徒 sets 土 beside 彳走zǒuto walk — the bare act 徒 builds on