TSUMUGU · TOCFL C1 (est.) · 字
宰
宰 ＝ 宀 ＋ 辛
ㄗㄞˇ · zǎi
verb — to butcher, slaughter; noun — a chief steward, a minister
字源 FORM — what the parts do
宀義a roof, the house
Under a roof (宀), the blade (辛) — 說文 reads it as the one who runs the household, an officer set over the punished. From that overseer come two lines: the chief steward who governs, 宰相、主宰, and the hand that wields the knife, 屠宰、宰殺.
故事 STORY — a scene to remember it by
屋頂（宀）底下，一把刀（辛）——管事的人在這裡發落一切。
Under the roof (宀), a blade (辛) — the one in charge settles everything here.
字源記憶法
意 · Meanings
(本義)屋裡執事的人— the household officer
→宰相、主宰— a chief minister; to govern常用
→屠宰、宰殺— to butcher, slaughter常用
(本義) original meaning · → ⇒ each arrow = one more step of extension