拜见
bài jiàn · HSK 7
to pay a formal visit
🙇 拜 bow + 见 meet = you bow when you meet your superior
拜 carries reverence — not a casual hello but a formal bow. Paired with 见 (to see or meet), it signals a respectful audience with someone of higher rank or seniority.
见 — eye 目 over legs 儿 (人)
见 (traditional 見) is a pictograph of a person 儿 with a large eye 目 on top, emphasizing the act of seeing. The original meaning 'to see' broadened over time to include 'to meet,' 'to perceive,' and 'view/opinion.' The simplified form 见 keeps the same structure in cursive shorthand.