TSUMUGU · TOCFL 2 (est.) · 字
解
ㄐㄧㄝˇ · jiě
verb — to untie; to solve; to explain
字源 FORM — what the parts do
A knife (刀) at the joint, taking the horn (角) off the ox (牛) — an animal coming apart piece by piece. From taking apart: 解開 unties, 解決 works the problem loose, 了解 has it in pieces you can hold.
故事 STORY — a scene to remember it by
刀尖（刀）找到關節，輕輕一轉——角（角）離了牛（牛）身。
The knife (刀) finds the joint, one easy turn — the horn (角) comes away from the ox (牛).
字源記憶法
意 · Meanings
(本義)分解— to take apart — the ox divided
→解開— to untie, loosen
→解決、解釋— to solve; to explain — the knot worked loose常用
⇒了解、理解— to understand — taken apart and seen through
(本義) original meaning · → ⇒ each arrow = one more step of extension
關 · Related
蟹xièthe 解 series — the crab, the shelled one you take apart角jiǎothe horn it removes