TSUMUGU · TOCFL 6 (est.) · 字
秉
秉 ＝ 禾 ＋ 彐
ㄅㄧㄥˇ · bǐng
verb — to grasp, hold; to hold to (a principle)
字源 FORM — what the parts do
禾義a stalk of grain
彐義a hand (the old 又) closed around the stalkthe hand runs through the middle of the 禾
A hand (彐, the old 又) closes around a stalk of grain (禾) — to grasp, to hold a handful. 說文 reads it 禾束, a fistful of grain. From holding a thing in the hand came holding to a thing in the will: 秉持, 秉公, holding fast to principle; 秉燭, holding the candle through the night.
故事 STORY — a scene to remember it by
一隻手（彐）從中間穿過去，攥住一束禾（禾）——秉。
A hand (彐) runs through the middle and closes on a sheaf of grain (禾) — 秉.
字源
意 · Meanings
(本義)握住、拿著— to grasp, hold a handful常用
→秉持、秉公、秉性— to hold to (a principle); inborn character
(本義) original meaning · → ⇒ each arrow = one more step of extension