TSUMUGU · TOCFL 2 (est.) · 字
污
污 = 氵 + 于
ㄨ · wū
adj — dirty, filthy; verb — to pollute, stain
字源 FORM — what the parts do
氵義water — here, foul water
IFTyú → wū — the donor reading drifted off
Stagnant water (氵) gone foul — dirty. 于 yú carries the sound, worn far from the modern reading. From filthy water the word spreads to anything soiled: 污染、污點、貪污.
故事 STORY — a scene to remember it by
一灘不流的水(氵),浮著綠苔,湊近就皺眉。
A patch of standing water (氵), green scum on top — you lean in and wince.
字源記憶法
意 · Meanings
(本義)污穢、骯髒— dirty; filthy常用
→污染、污點— to pollute; a stain常用
⇒貪污— to take bribes — to soil oneself with money
(本義) original meaning · → ⇒ each arrow = one more step of extension