服

According to the Shuowen Jiezi, 服 is a phono-semantic compound made of 舟 (boat) and 𠬝 (phonetic, meaning “to govern, control”).

The character originally depicted a bound person, symbolizing subjugation. Over time, in clerical script (楷書 kǎishū), the 舟 component was miswritten as 月, resulting in the modern form.

The right-hand part of the character comes from 𠬝, itself a combination of 卩 (seal, kneeling person) and 又 (hand), symbolizing restraint or subordination.

The original sense was “to follow” or “to submit/obey.”

Because servants who “follow” protect their masters, and clothes also “protect” the body, the meaning expanded to “clothes.”

Interestingly, among characters with 月 on the left, 服 is one of the few where 月 does not mean “flesh” (the “meat” radical) but retains the meaning of “moon.”