TSUMUGU · TOCFL 2 (est.) · 字
減
減 ＝ 氵 ＋ 咸
ㄐㄧㄢˇ · jiǎn
verb — to reduce, decrease, subtract
字源 FORM — what the parts do
氵義water
咸聲xián — gives the soundsalty; all
IFT≠xián → jiǎn — a far drift; the sound series went its own way
Water (氵) drawn down — the level drops, you have less. 咸 xián carries the sound, though it wandered far to jiǎn. From water falling came every kind of less: 減少、減輕、減法. 咸 still groups the family: 感、喊、憾.
故事 STORY — a scene to remember it by
水（氵）一點點退，岸邊露出來——減。
The water (氵) draws back bit by bit, the bank shows — less.
字源記憶法
意 · Meanings
(本義)減少— to reduce, decrease常用
→減輕— to lessen (in weight, degree)常用
→減法— subtraction
(本義) original meaning · → ⇒ each arrow = one more step of extension