农业
nóngyè · HSK 3
farming
🌾🚜 农业 = agriculture + industry (farm-work field)
农 means farming/agriculture (the 农民 is a farmer); 业 means industry, occupation, or trade. Together 农业 literally reads as the agriculture-industry — i.e. the farming sector or agriculture as a whole.
业 — top 业 (originally a notched board)
Originally a pictograph of a notched wooden board hung in ancient classrooms or temples to support bells and chimes. The notches inspired meanings of 'work' and 'profession,' as such boards were tools of trade and study. Today it means business, occupation, or undertaking.