TSUMUGU · TOCFL 2 (est.) · 字
研
研 ＝ 石 ＋ 幵
ㄧㄢˊ · yán
verb — to grind fine; to study deeply
字源 FORM — what the parts do
幵聲jiān — gives the soundtwo level stakes — flat, even
ITjiān → yán — the initial falls away to y; tone shifts too
A stone (石) does the work; 幵 jiān gives the sound, the j worn down to y. Together they write grinding on stone — ink ground fine (研墨); and a question worked just as fine: 研究.
故事 STORY — a scene to remember it by
墨條在石（石）上一圈一圈磨，水慢慢黑了。
The ink stick circles on the stone (石); the water slowly goes black.
字源記憶法
意 · Meanings
(本義)研磨、研墨— to grind fine
→研究— to study deeply — a question ground fine常用
(本義) original meaning · → ⇒ each arrow = one more step of extension
關 · Related
妍yánthe same with 女 — lovely; the same worn reading究jiùthe partner in 研究 — probing to the end