出主意
chū zhǔyi · HSK 7
Idea
💡 chū zhǔyi = out + main + idea — toss out the key idea
Literally 出 (put out) + 主意 (main idea). You produce a suggestion by pushing your central thought outward for others to hear. The verb 出 gives it an active, generous feel — offering up a plan.
出 — foot 止 emerging from enclosure 凵
出 is a pictograph showing a foot or plant stepping out of a hollow or enclosure, depicting the act of going forth. The original sense of 'coming out' or 'emerging' has remained stable since oracle bone script. It now broadly means 'to exit, go out, or produce.'
主 — flame/lamp on top of a stand 王
Originally a pictograph of a lamp with a flame on top of its stand, representing the lord or master of the household who tended the fire. The meaning extended from 'lamp/host' to 'master, owner, main, principal'. The character 炷 (wick) preserves the original 'lamp' sense.