党
dǎng · HSK 6
party
🚩 党 = 尚 (esteem) on top + 儿 (legs/person) — the esteemed group people stand behind
Modern simplified form replaced the bottom 黑 (black) with 儿 (legs). Sounds like 'dahng' — think of a political party as the esteemed body that members rally under. Common in 共产党 (Communist Party).
党 — top 龸 (尚 shàng phonetic) + 儿 (legs/person)
Simplified from 黨, originally written with 黑 (black) below 尚 (esteem), suggesting a darkened or shadowy faction. The simplified form replaces 黑 with 儿 (person/legs), keeping 尚 as the phonetic. Meaning shifted from 'clique' to neutral 'party' or 'association'.