TSUMUGU · TOCFL 2 (est.) · 字
聊
聊 ＝ 耳 ＋ 卯
ㄌㄧㄠˊ · liáo
verb — to chat; adv — merely, just (for want of better)
字源 FORM — what the parts do
卯聲mǎo — gives the soundthe same 卯 under 柳、留
{m,l}Imǎo → liáo — the nasal shifts to l in this series
An ear (耳) and the sound 卯 — the original word is a ringing in the ears, mǎo worn to liáo. From idle sound in the ear came idle talk, and from "nothing better to do" the sense "merely": 聊天、無聊、聊以自慰.
故事 STORY — a scene to remember it by
兩人耳朵（耳）湊近，有一搭沒一搭地說著閒話。
Two ears (耳) lean close, trading talk with nothing much in it.
字源記憶法
意 · Meanings
(本義)耳鳴— a ringing in the ears
→聊天、閒聊— to chat常用
⇒聊以、無聊— merely, just; for want of better
(本義) original meaning · → ⇒ each arrow = one more step of extension
關 · Related
卯mǎothe sound parent — 聊 adds the ear ; 卯 stays the fourth earthly branch柳＝ 木 ＋ liǔthe series twin — same donor slid to l (柳、留、聊)