entries → 笑
TSUMUGU · TOCFL 1 (est.) · 字
笑 character · TOCFL 1 (est.)
笑 ＝ 竹 ＋ 夭
ㄒㄧㄠˋ · xiào
verb — to laugh, smile; to ridicule

字源 FORM — what the parts do

竹形bamboothe bamboo on top, swaying
夭形a bent, bowed figurerendered bare — a person doubled over
Bamboo (竹) above a bent figure (夭) — bamboo bowing in the wind, a body doubled over. From the bending: to laugh, to smile (微笑), then to laugh at, to mock (嘲笑、笑話).

故事 STORY — a scene to remember it by

竹（竹）梢被風一壓，彎下去；底下的人（夭）也笑彎了腰。
The bamboo tips (竹) bow in a gust; below, a figure (夭) doubles over laughing.
記憶法
意 · Meanings
(本義)笑、微笑— to laugh, smile常用
→嘲笑、笑話— to ridicule; a joke
(本義) original meaning · → ⇒ each arrow = one more step of extension
關 · Related
夭yāothe lower half, standing alone — a bent figure; 笑 sets bamboo 竹 swaying above哭kūthe opposite face — tears at two eyes over a 犬, where 笑 bends with mirth