術 (shù)

skill, art; method, technique; trick

Etymology

Phonosemantic compound. 行 represents the meaning and 朮 represents the sound. Based on the original meaning "city road". The meaning later shifted to "way", "method", "technique", and "skill".

Shuowen Jiezi

《說文》:“術,邑中道也。从行,术聲。”

Original meaning

city road

Components