付

付 is a compound ideogram depicting a person (人) together with a hand (寸) — representing the act of handing something over.

Thus, the combined imagery conveys giving from one hand to another, encompassing the senses of transfer, assignment, and entrustment.

人 — person, giver or receiver.

寸 — hand or action of giving.

Later, the meaning broadened from “entrusting” to “paying or remitting”, especially as trade and written transactions developed.

交付 (교부) — to deliver, to hand over formally

托付 (탁부) — to entrust, to leave in someone’s care

付出 (부출) — to pay out, to expend effort

付與 (부여) — to grant, to confer

付託 (부탁) — to request, to entrust a matter

支付 (지불) — to pay (money)

付記 (부기) — to append a note, addendum

附帶 (부대) — (via compound 附) to accompany, be attached

In classical usage, 付 often carried moral connotations of trust and responsibility.

To “entrust (付)” was not merely to hand over, but to transfer duty or care with faith in another’s integrity.

For instance:

「以事付之」— “to entrust him with the affair.”

「責任所付」— “where responsibility lies.”

Later, in administrative and legal documents, 付 became a fixed verb for formal transfer or authorization.

In Buddhist texts, the term 付法 (법을 전하다) means “to pass down the Dharma,” symbolizing spiritual transmission.