TSUMUGU · TOCFL B2 (est.) · 字
藉
藉 ＝ 艸 ＋ 耤
ㄐㄧㄝˋ · jiè/jí
verb — (jiè) to rely on, make use of; by way of; (jí) trampled, in disorder
字源 FORM — what the parts do
艸義grass (艸) — the plant radical, written 艹
耤聲jí — gives the sound
Tjí → jiè — the jiè reading lifts the tone; jí keeps it
Grass (艸, written 艹) for the woven mat; 耤 jí carries the sound. 說文 reads 藉 as the grass mat laid out for sacrifice. From something laid under you to lean on come its uses: to rely on (憑藉), and the pretext you lean behind (藉口). Read jí, it survives in 狼藉 — scattered, trampled flat.
故事 STORY — a scene to remember it by
一張草席（艹）墊在底下，靠著它才坐得穩。
A grass mat (艸) laid underneath — something to lean on to sit steady.
字源記憶法
意 · Meanings
jiè
(本義)藉墊— a grass mat to lie on
→憑藉、藉助— to rely on, make use of常用
⇒藉口— a pretext — something to lean behind
jí
(引申)狼藉— scattered, trampled — in utter disorder常用
(本義) original meaning · → ⇒ each arrow = one more step of extension