組

It is a phono-semantic compound, composed of:

糸 (silk, thread) – semantic element, indicating weaving, threads, and connections.

且 (cha/jo, “moreover, again”) – phonetic element.

The earliest sense of 組 was a silken band or cord woven together. In ancient China it was used especially for ornamental pendants (佩玉, jade ornaments) and for cords to hang seals of office.

From this literal meaning, it extended to:

- “official’s seal” (by metonymy, from the cords attaching seals);

- “to weave, to plait” (general textile sense);

- “to form a group, to organize” – as threads are gathered and combined.

조직 (組織) – organization, structure

구성조 (構成組) – constituent group

학급조 (學級組) – school class group

기조 (基組) – base unit, foundation group

It also appears as a classifier for administrative or group divisions, 조 (組) - “team, section, group.”