About
The character 挈 (qiè) is a phono-semantic compound. Its semantic component, 手 (shǒu, hand), indicates that the character relates to manual actions. The phonetic component, 㓞 (qiè), comprising 丰 and 刀 (knife), primarily supplies the pronunciation while also suggesting a sense of cutting or incising. Originally, 挈 referred specifically to the physical act of lifting or carrying something by hand. Its meaning later broadened to include concepts like taking along, leading, or assisting, as seen in the compound 提挈 (tíqiè), meaning to guide or support.
Etymology Hide
