加盟
jiāméng · HSK 6
align
🤝 加 add + 盟 alliance = add yourself to an alliance, align
盟 holds 明 bright + 皿 dish — oaths were once sworn over a ritual vessel in sunlight. 加 means add, so 加盟 is adding yourself to that sworn pact: to align with a group.
加 — force 力 + mouth 口
加 is traditionally analyzed as a compound of 力 (strength) and 口 (mouth), suggesting boasting or exaggerating one's effort with words. From this it extended to the meaning 'to add' or 'increase'. Today it is used broadly for addition, both literal and figurative.