集

Phono-semantic compound with pictographic origin:

隹 (새 추, “short-tailed bird”) — birds as a symbol of flocking.

木 (나무 목, “tree”) — indicates the tree where birds rest.

Thus the character originally depicts birds gathered on a tree - “to flock, to assemble.”

Later standardized as a phono-semantic compound with 隹 supplying sound as well.

Script evolution:

Oracle bone script (甲骨文): shows multiple small birds perched on branches of a tree.

Bronze inscriptions (金文 jinwen): clearer depiction of birds sitting atop a single tree trunk.

Small seal script (小篆): abstracted into the form with 木 below and 隹 above.

Clerical/regular script (隸書 / 楷書): stabilized into the modern form 集.

集合 (집합) — to assemble, gather together

集中 (집중) — concentration, to focus

集會 (집회) — meeting, assembly

文集 (문집) — anthology, collected writings

郵集 (우집) — stamp collection

In modern Chinese (jí), used both for actions (“to gather”) and nouns (“collection, anthology”).

In Korean, read as 집, used mainly in compounds (집합, 집중).