接

Phono-semantic compound:

手 (hand radical) – semantic, indicating an action done with the hand.

妾 (concubine, phonetic element) – provides the sound.

Interpretation: by extending one’s hand toward another (as with a close attendant/concubine), the idea of touching, receiving, or connecting arose. Some sources explain it in a quasi-ideographic sense: “to serve or attend with the hand, keeping close by”.

Semantic range:

- to connect, link, join together;

- to touch, to come into contact;

- to receive, to welcome;

- to associate or engage with others.

Often appears in both physical and abstract senses (touching, receiving, continuing a sequence, making social contact).

直接 (직접) – direct, immediate

接觸 (접촉) – contact, touch

接待 (접대) – reception, to entertain guests

接續 (접속) – connection, continuation

接線 (접선) – tangent line (in math); or secret contact