達

達 is a phono-semantic compound composed of:

辶 (쉬엄쉬엄 갈 착) — semantic element meaning “to go” or “movement.”

羍 (phonetic) — a variant of 大 (“great”) and 羊 (“sheep”), giving the sound dá and connoting abundance or completeness.

Together they express the sense of smoothly moving forward without obstruction—a road open all the way to its end.

到達 (도달) — arrival, attainment

通達 (통달) — thorough understanding, mastery

達人 (달인) — expert, enlightened person

表達 (표달) — expression, articulation

發達 (발달) — development, advancement

In Confucian and Daoist thought, 達 embodies the ideal of clarity, openness, and adaptability—to move through life’s paths without hindrance.

「不通則病，通則達。」

“If there is blockage, there is disorder; if there is flow, there is attainment.” — (Zhuangzi)

Thus, 達 came to symbolize both outer progress (reaching one’s aim) and inner enlightenment (attaining wisdom).

In social ethics, a 達人 (달인) is one who has achieved mastery not merely of skill but of temperament—a person unconfined by narrow views, serene and understanding.