略

Phono-semantic compound composed of:

田 (밭 전) — semantic component, meaning “field,” suggesting area, territory, or scope of action.

各 (각각 각) — phonetic component, giving the sound ryak and implying the sense of division, taking, or selection.

The combination originally meant “to divide or take control of territory”, hence the early sense “to seize, to plan, to command.”

Later, the meaning expanded metaphorically to “to outline, to summarize”, that is, to “take only the essential parts.”

簡略 (간략) — simple; concise

省略 (생략) — to omit; to leave out

戰略 (전략) — strategy; art of war

計略 (계략) — scheme; stratagem; plan

侵略 (침략) — invasion; aggression

略奪 (약탈) — plunder; pillage

攻略 (공략) — to attack; to capture strategically

略圖 (약도) — simplified map; sketch

大略 (대략) — roughly; approximately

概要 (개요) — outline; summary (related meaning)

略去 (약거) — to leave out; omit

In ancient Chinese military texts, 略 meant to plan or to seize, referring to the art of strategic conquest.

It appears frequently in the Art of War (孫子兵法):

「善戰者，勝於易勝者也，略地者必先謀。」

“The good warrior wins where victory is easy; he who plans to seize territory must first strategize.”

Over time, as governance and administration evolved, 略 came to denote planning in general — the act of organizing, outlining, or managing affairs with foresight.

Its military sense persisted in terms like 전략(戰略) and 공략(攻略), while its linguistic and intellectual sense broadened into 간략(簡略) and 생략(省略).

The two semantic lines — to seize and to simplify — share a common thread: both involve taking only what is necessary and effective.

略 symbolizes precision, focus, and decisive action.

It teaches the principle of economy of effort — whether in language, governance, or war, success lies in clarity and efficiency.

The “field” (田) evokes scope and territory, while the sound element 各 suggests selection and taking.

Together, 略 embodies the art of selective mastery — to discern the essential and act upon it.

「略者，取其要也。」

“To ‘略’ is to take what is essential” — Shuowen Jiezi (說文解字).

略 teaches that true strength lies in conciseness — in thought, speech, and action.

To plan effectively, one must simplify without losing substance; to speak wisely, one must say little yet convey much.

「能略者，能成。」

“He who can simplify can accomplish.”

Thus, 略 stands as a character of strategy, clarity, and focused intent — the wisdom to act briefly yet decisively, and to grasp the essence while others are lost in detail.