盤

Phono-semantic compound:

皿 (명, “dish, vessel”) – semantic component, indicating a dish or tray.

般 (반, “to move, transfer; general”) – phonetic component, giving sound.

Thus originally depicting a large dish or tray, extended to mean “table, disc, base, or to surround/inquire.”

The earliest form shows a dish-like vessel, highlighting the core sense of “tray/basin.”

Later broadened to figurative meanings: “foundation, base” (e.g., 地盤), or “to interrogate” (盤問).

Closely related to 皿 (명, “dish”) and other dish-related characters.

小盤 (소반) — small dining table, tray

圓盤 (원반) — disc, round tray

棋盤 (기반) — chessboard, game board

地盤 (지반) — foundation, ground, base

盤問 (반문) — to interrogate, inquire closely