釋

It is a compound character made from:

采 (釆, ‘to distinguish, to pick’);

睪 (역, ‘to watch, to observe’).

Common in religious (Buddhist) and academic contexts.

Still in active use in modern Korean, especially 해석 (interpretation) and 석방 (release).

Common compounds:

해석 (解釋) – interpretation, explanation;

석방 (釋放) – release, liberation;

석가 (釋迦) – Śākyamuni (the Buddha);

석존 (釋尊) – the World-Honored One, the Buddha.

It is also used in the transliteration of Śākyamuni (Shakyamuni, the historical Buddha), and by extension, it is placed before the Dharma name of a Buddhist monk, functioning somewhat like a surname.