卧铺
wò pù · HSK 6
a bed
🛏️🚂 wò pù = lie-down + spread — a spread-out spot to lie down on a train
卧 means to lie down or recline, 铺 means a spread or a shop/berth. Together they describe the fold-out sleeping berth on long-distance trains — literally a laid-out spread for sleeping.
卧 — 臣 (minister/eye) + 卜 (divine)
Originally depicted a person bending down with a lowered eye (臣 showing a downturned eye), representing someone lying down or resting. The character evolved to mean 'to lie down' or 'recline,' and by extension 'sleeping quarters.' The 臣 component reflects the bowed posture rather than its 'minister' meaning.
铺 — metal radical 钅 + 甫 (phonetic)
A semantic-phonetic compound: 钅 (metal) hints at meaning, while 甫 supplies the sound 'pū'. Originally referred to a metal door-knocker or ring, then extended to 'spread out' or 'lay flat' (as metal sheets are spread). Today it commonly means 'to spread/pave' or 'shop' (read pù).