謁

Phono-semantic compound:

謁 = 言 (speech, report) + 曷 (phonetic, reading “al/het”)

The phonetic component 曷 historically carried meanings related to inquiry (“why, what reason”) and served widely as a phonetic for characters read al/het in Middle Chinese.

Because 言 concerns speaking/reporting, 謁 developed the sense of “to speak to (a superior), to request an audience.”

Later, it extended to:

- “to announce formally”

- “official audience, formal paying of respects”

The character mainly appears in:

- historical texts

- formal or elevated literary expressions

- Korean historical dramas (알현하다)

알현 (謁見) — to have an audience with (a superior)

출알 (出謁) — to go out to be received by someone of higher rank

하알 (下謁) — to pay respects downward (rare/archaic)

謁 is strongly connected to court ritual vocabulary in East Asian tradition.

The component 曷 appears in other phonetic-series characters: 渴, 喝, 褐.

Classical citations:

《左傳·襄公二十六年》 (Zuo Commentary)

「諸侯來謁。」

“The feudal lords came to pay an audience.”

《漢書·百官公卿表》 (Book of Han)

「謁者，掌通賔客。」

“The ‘Attendants for Audiences’ are responsible for receiving guests.”

《史記·張釋之列傳》 (Records of the Grand Historian)

「上謁者以告。」

“The attendant reported it to His Majesty.”