并
bìng · HSK 3
and
👯 并 bìng: two 立 (stand) figures side by side — together, and
Originally two 立 standing shapes paired up, so the core sense is side-by-side, combined, simultaneously. Also works as the connector and. Sounds like English bing — twin bells ringing at once.
并 — two 立 (standing person) side by side
Originally a pictograph of two people standing side by side, depicting togetherness or combination. The modern form 并 merges several historical characters (並, 併, 竝) that all conveyed 'side by side' or 'combine'. Today it means 'and, moreover' or 'to merge', and also negates expectations as in 并不.