徒

Phono-semantic compound:

辵 (⻍, walking/movement) — semantic, related to going or moving;

土 (earth, soil) — phonetic element, giving the sound do.

Originally indicated people walking together on the road (a following, group). From there meanings of “group,” “followers,” “disciples,” and “merely/only” developed.

Semantic range:

- a group, a crowd, followers;

- disciples, adherents (esp. of a master or doctrine);

- on foot, walking; pedestrian;

- merely, only, in vain.

학도 (學徒) — student, learner

도보 (徒步) — walking, on foot

도수 (徒手) — empty-handed

문도 (門徒) — disciple, follower

사도 (使徒) — apostle, missionary disciple

폭도 (暴徒) — mob, rioters

군도 (群徒) — gang, band (of people)

무위도식 (無爲徒食) — doing nothing and just eating (idly living)

도당 (徒黨) — faction, clique