叉

Formed as a pictographic/associative compound:

又 (“hand”) provides the main form;

combined with a dot 丶, indicating extension or splitting.

The character originally depicted a hand spreading apart or forking, later generalized to “dividing,” “crossing,” or “fork-shaped.”

Semantic range:

- fork, branch, divergence (갈래, 가닥);

- to cross, intersect (교차하다);

- to spread apart, open (벌리다);

- modern: fork (utensil), X-shape (알파벳 X).

교차 (交叉) — intersection, to cross

분叉 (分叉) — bifurcation, branching

开叉 (開叉) — side slit (in clothing)

삼지창 (三叉槍) — trident, pitchfork

포크 (叉子) — fork (utensil)