TSUMUGU · C1 (est.) · 字
挨
挨 ＝ 扌 ＋ 矣
ㄞ · āi/ái
verb — to be next to, in turn (āi); to suffer, endure (ái)
字源 FORM — what the parts do
扌義the hand
矣聲yǐ — the classical end-particle; gives the soundthe reading swings far from yǐ
IFTyǐ → āi — the sound carries over only loosely
A hand (扌) set against a back — to push up close, then to take what comes. 矣 yǐ lends only the sound, swung loose from its old reading. Pushed-close gives 挨着, 挨家挨戶, read āi; taking-the-blow gives 挨打, 挨餓, read ái.
故事 STORY — a scene to remember it by
一隻手（扌）抵在背上，把人一個挨一個推緊，誰也分不開。
A hand (扌) presses on a back, pushing the line of people one tight against the next.
字源記憶法
意 · Meanings
āi
(本義)挨著、挨近— to be next to, push close常用
→挨家挨戶— door to door — one house next to the next
ái
(本義)挨打、挨罵— to take a beating, get scolded常用
→挨餓、挨苦— to suffer hunger, endure hardship
(本義) original meaning · → ⇒ each arrow = one more step of extension
關 · Related
唉＝ 口 ＋ āisame sound, but on 口 — the sighing "alas"捱áithe close kin for the enduring sense — plus 厓, to drag through