扎实
zhā shi , zhá shi · HSK 6
solid
💪🪨 Zha = tie down tight + shi = solid rock foundation
扎 means to tie, bind, or take root firmly. 实 means real, solid, substantial. Together: tied-down-tight and rock-real, something so firmly rooted and substantial it wont budge.
扎 — hand radical 扌 + 乚
扎 is a phono-semantic compound. The hand radical 扌 gives the meaning, since the original sense involves piercing, tying, or pulling with the hand, while 乚 hints at the sound. Over time it broadened to cover 'prick,' 'tie up,' and 'plunge into.'