插 (chā)

to insert; stick in; pierce; to take part in; to interfere; to interpo

HSK 3.1 level 5
12 strokes

Etymology

Phonosemantic compound. 扌 represents the meaning and 臿 represents the sound.

Shuowen Jiezi

《說文》：“插，刺肉也。从手，从臿。”

Components

扌 (meaning) — 扌 is a component form of 手.
臿 (sound, meaning) — Depicts using a pestle (午) to grind grain to be separated from its husk in a mortar (臼).