節

It is a phono-semantic compound, composed of:

竹 (bamboo) – semantic element, since bamboo has visible nodes/joints (마디).

卽 (jeuk/jik, “immediate, to approach”) – phonetic element.

Semantic range:

- joint, node – especially of bamboo, plants, or the body; by extension, a section or division of something.

- festival, season marker – from the sense of “time nodes” in the calendar, e.g., 명절 (名節, festival).

- integrity, moral principle – as bamboo remains upright and segmented, 節 came to symbolize moderation and uprightness.

- to economize, to restrain – as in 節約 (jeol-yak, to economize, save).

절기 (節氣) – solar term, seasonal division

명절 (名節) – festival, holiday

절약 (節約) – saving, frugality

절제 (節制) – moderation, self-control

절개 (節槪) – integrity, fidelity

음절 (音節) – syllable (lit. “sound node”)