納

It is a phono-semantic compound (also interpretable as a semantic-phonetic association), composed of:

糸 (silk, thread) – semantic element, suggesting threads or bringing in;

內 (nae/nei, “inside, within”) – phonetic and partly semantic element, indicating the idea of “bringing inside.”

Etymologically, 納 shares its root with 內 (inside), emphasizing the act of bringing something inward, accepting, or submitting.

納 originated from the idea of threads being taken inside (內), and by extension came to mean to admit, to accept, to receive, to submit, to pay, and even to enjoy. Across East Asia it remains a productive morpheme in legal, economic, and cultural contexts, often associated with payments, acceptance, and submission.

납입 (納入) – payment, deposit, remittance

납세 (納稅) – tax payment

헌납 (獻納) – offering, contribution

혼납 (婚納) – dowry or betrothal gift (classical usage)

납량 (納涼) – “enjoying the cool” (esp. in summer, traditional expression)