術

It is a phono-semantic compound, formed from:

行 (“to go, to move, path”) as the semantic element;

朮 (chul, millet plant) as the phonetic element.

The sense is that of a path or method of doing something, hence “technique, method, art.”

術 extends from its original sense of a path or method to cover the wide semantic field of skills, arts, sciences, and techniques, making it one of the most versatile characters in East Asian vocabulary.

In modern Korean, 술 (術) is highly productive in compounds connected with skills, arts, and specialized methods:

기술 (技術) – technology, skill

미술 (美術) – fine arts

의술 (醫術) – medical skill, medicine

법술 (法術) – magic, occult arts

학술 (學術) – scholarship, academic studies

무술 (武術) – martial arts

술수 (術數) – stratagem, trick