截至
jiézhì · HSK 6
by
⏳ JIE = cut, ZHI = to arrive — cut off at the arrival point of a deadline
截 means to cut or sever, 至 means to reach or arrive. Together they mark the point where time is cut off — the deadline boundary. By that date, no further.
截 — semantic 戈 (halberd) + phonetic 雀 (sparrow, simplified to 隹 above 土)
截 originally depicts cutting with a dagger-axe (戈), giving the core meaning 'to cut off' or 'sever.' The 戈 component carries the meaning while the rest of the character supplies the sound. Over time it broadened to include senses like 'intercept,' 'block,' or 'a section/length' of something.
至 — arrow 矢 inverted + ground 一
至 is a pictograph showing an arrow (矢) landing point-down on the ground (一), depicting the moment it reaches its target. The original meaning was 'to arrive' or 'to reach,' which extended to 'utmost' or 'extreme' — the point beyond which one cannot go further.