枝
- branch, twig;
- offshoot;
- to divide, to branch out;
Etymology
Phono-semantic compound:
木 (tree, wood) – semantic, indicating vegetation.
支 (to support, to hold up) – phonetic element, lending the sound “지.”
Originally depicting a tree branch extending outward from the trunk, the character came to represent any kind of branching structure (plant, family line, organizations, ideas).
Usage in Korean
가지 (枝) – tree branch
분지 (分枝) – branch, offshoot
지류 (支流) – tributary stream
교지 (校枝) – branch school
Additional notes
In Idu script 이두 (吏讀), the character was read 갓, following the native Korean word for “branch.” In legal contexts, it could mean “restricted/forbidden area for collecting resources.”
The metaphorical sense of “branching” extends into concepts of family (e.g., clan branches), organizations, and even abstract divisions like topics or arguments.
