TSUMUGU · B1 (est.) · 字
擅
擅 ＝ 扌 ＋ 亶
ㄕㄢˋ · shàn
verb — to act on one's own authority; to be good at
字源 FORM — what the parts do
扌義a hand
亶聲dǎn — gives the soundgrain heaped full in a granary
{d}/{sh}ITdǎn → shàn — initial and tone shift
A hand (扌) takes a thing for its own to handle — to act on one's own authority. 亶 dǎn carries the sound, worn to shàn. From seizing sole charge: 擅自、擅權, then what you alone command well: 擅長.
故事 STORY — a scene to remember it by
手（扌）越過眾人，自個兒把事擅自定了，誰也沒問。
The hand (扌) reaches past everyone and settles the matter on its own — no one was asked.
字源記憶法
意 · Meanings
(本義)擅自— to act on one's own authority常用
→擅權— to arrogate power
⇒擅長— to be good at, to excel常用
(本義) original meaning · → ⇒ each arrow = one more step of extension
關 · Related
壇＝ 土 ＋ tánthe series — 壇 sets over 土 (a raised altar), 擅 keeps the hand 禪chánthe -class series — by 示, meditation