較

Phono-semantic compound:

車 (거/차, “cart, vehicle”) — semantic component, indicates movement, transport.

交 (교, “to intersect, to exchange”) — phonetic component, gives sound.

Thus originally “to place side by side like carts intersecting,” extended to mean “to compare, to contrast.”

比較 (비교) — comparison

較量 (교량) — contest, to compete

較差 (교차) — difference, variation

較便 (교편) — relatively convenient

較好 (교호) — comparatively good

In Guangyun (廣韻), listed as a polyphonic character.

古孝切 → 교 (jiào) — common reading (Korean, Mandarin standard).

古岳切 → 각 (jué) — rare/archaic reading, still seen in Japanese usage.

The reading distinction had no semantic difference; e.g., in 角逐 (각축) the 角 can also be explained via 較 (“to vie, contend”).