以

Pictograph, later phono-semantic reinterpretation:

Oracle bone script (甲骨文): drawn as a coiled line or cord, interpreted as a navel cord / umbilical cord (something connecting or used as a means).

Bronze & Seal script (金文·篆書): form stabilized, later with the addition of 人 (person) on the side.

Modern form: often explained as 女 (woman) + 人 (person) in Cangjie input, but the true origin is the cord/means image.

Thus: originally a pictograph of a cord, later extended to mean “to use, to take as a means.”

In modern compounds:

可以 (가이) — can, may

得以 (득이) — to manage to, be able to

以後 (이후) — after, from now on

以外 (이외) — outside of, except

Classical Chinese constructions:

以AB → “to do B with A”

是以B → “therefore B” (literally: “for this reason, B”)

以A爲B → “to take A as B, regard A as B”

所以B → “the reason/method for B” (literally: “that by which…”)

Mentioned in 《說文解字》 (Shuōwén Jiězì) by Xu Shen as: 「以, 用也」 — “以 means to use.”

Korean grammar distinguishes 로서 vs. 로써, but Classical Chinese 以 covers both.

Plays a role similar to the modern Chinese structural particle 把 (bǎ) in some contexts.

㠯, preserving the earlier shape.