侧
cè , zhāi · HSK 6
the side
↔️ 侧 = 亻(person) + 则 (rule/standard) — a person standing to the side
The 亻radical marks people; 则 also lends the sound (cè). Together 侧 means side, or to lean/incline. Same phonetic family as 测 (to measure) and 厕 (toilet, lit. side-room).
侧 — person 亻 + 則 (rule/standard)
A semantic-phonetic compound. The left side 亻 (person) gives the meaning — originally a person leaning or standing to one side — while 則 supplies the sound. Over time it broadened from 'lean sideways' to the general sense of 'side' or 'flank.'