• 氵(water; liquid)
• 艹(grass; plant)
• 两(sea; ocean)

Water rising high to the grass tips means it is full and overflowing.

• 方(flag; banner (tribal standard))
• 矢(arrow tip; arrowhead)

A tribe gathers under a flag, with hands gripping arrows ready for battle.

• 自(nose (pictographic) → self; body)

Ancient people pointed to their nose when saying "I," so the character for nose also means self.

• 氵(water; liquid)
• 台(platform; foundation)

A solid foundation is used to control the flow of water.

• 且(pile up; temporary)
• 厶(private; personal)

A district is a small administrative unit stacked beneath the province, like layers piled on top of each other.

• 氵(water; liquid)
• 艹(grass; plant)
• 两(sea; ocean)

Water rising high to the grass tips means it is full and overflowing.

• 方(flag; banner (tribal standard))
• 矢(arrow tip; arrowhead)

A tribe gathers under a flag, with hands gripping arrows ready for battle.

• 自(nose (pictographic) → self; body)

Ancient people pointed to their nose when saying "I," so the character for nose also means self.

• 氵(water; liquid)
• 台(platform; foundation)

A solid foundation is used to control the flow of water.

• 且(pile up; temporary)
• 厶(private; personal)

A district is a small administrative unit stacked beneath the province, like layers piled on top of each other.