entries → 討
TSUMUGU · TOCFL 2 (est.) · 字
討 character · TOCFL 2 (est.)
討 ＝ 言 ＋ 寸
ㄊㄠˇ · tǎo
verb — to discuss; to demand; to seek; to denounce

字源 FORM — what the parts do

言義speech — a mouth with words rising
寸義a hand at the wrist — a measured grip, to handle by rule
言 the speech, 寸 the measuring hand: to set words in order, to handle a matter by the rule of the tongue. From governing-by-word came 討論 to thrash out, 討債 to dun for, 討好 to court favor — every kind of pressing with speech.
意 · Meanings
(本義)討伐、聲討— to denounce, to punish by word
→討論— to discuss, to thrash out常用
⇒討債、討錢— to demand, to dun for
⇒討好、討厭— to seek (favor); to court (a reaction)
(本義) original meaning · → ⇒ each arrow = one more step of extension
關 · Related
寸cùnthe right half, standing alone — 寸 is the inch, the measured wrist; 討 sets 言 beside it論＝ 言 ＋ 侖lùnthe partner in 討論 — 論 weighs and orders ideas, 討 presses and contends