沮

Phono-semantic compound:

水 (물 수, “water”) — semantic, indicating a relation to flow or fluid motion.

且 (또 차, “moreover; moreover; to rest”) — phonetic, providing the sound 저 (jǔ).

The character originally depicted water that pools or halts, symbolizing the idea of something being obstructed or slowed down. From this, the sense of hindering, preventing, frustrating developed.

저지 (沮止) — obstruction, hindrance

저상 (沮喪) — discouragement, depression, loss of morale

저패 (沮敗) — defeat, failure

In Classical Chinese, 沮 commonly appeared in phrases like 沮止軍勢 (“to halt the advance of troops”) or 沮喪其志 (“to dampen one’s spirit”), retaining the dual sense of physical obstruction and emotional discouragement.