公路
gōnglù · HSK 2
highway
🛣️ 公路 = 公 (public) + 路 (road) — a public road
公 means public or shared; 路 means road or path. Together 公路 names a public road, i.e. a highway or main trunk road open to all traffic, as opposed to a private lane.
公 — eight 八 + private 厶
Originally an ideograph showing 八 (to divide) over 厶 (private/self), depicting the act of splitting away from selfish interest. The combination came to mean 'public' or 'fair,' the opposite of private. It later extended to senses like 'duke,' 'lord,' and 'grandfather.'
路 — foot 足 + each 各 (phonetic)
路 is a semantic-phonetic compound. The foot radical 足 on the left signals meaning related to walking or travel, while 各 on the right hints at the ancient pronunciation. Originally referring to a road traveled on foot, it broadened to mean 'road, path, route' in general.