擬

A phono-semantic compound:

手 (hand) — semantic component, indicating manual action, handling, forming

疑 (의) — phonetic component, supplying the sound (의 / yí), and also suggesting deliberation or consideration

The character originally conveys handling something while considering or estimating it, which naturally developed into meanings such as comparing, planning, or imitating.

Semantic development:

- compare / estimate — weighing similarity

- imitate — modeling after an example

- plan / draft — forming a tentative decision

- hypothetical assumption — supposing a case

In Korean, 擬 appears mainly in formal, academic, legal, or technical vocabulary.

Common compounds:

의논 / 의의 (擬議) — to deliberate; to discuss a plan

의제 (擬制) — legal fiction; juridical construction

모의 (模擬) — simulation; imitation

의고 (擬稿) — draft manuscript

의정 (擬定) — to plan; to propose

Compared with 比 (to compare), 擬 implies intentional mental construction or planning, not just comparison.

Related characters (comparison & planning):

比 — to compare

似 — to resemble

模 — model; pattern

計 — plan; calculate

想 — to think; imagine

Among these, 擬 is distinctive for combining comparison with intentional planning or simulation.