指标
zhǐbiāo · HSK 5
quota
📊 指 = finger/point + 标 = mark/target → a pointed-to target = a metric
指 means finger or to point; 标 means mark, target, or standard. Together they name the thing being pointed at as a goal — a metric, indicator, or quota. Same logic gives 目标 (eye + target = objective).
指 — hand radical 扌 + 旨 (zhǐ, phonetic)
指 is a semantic-phonetic compound. The hand radical 扌 gives the meaning — something done with the hand, namely pointing with a finger. 旨 supplies the sound 'zhǐ'. From 'finger' it naturally extended to the verb 'to point' and figurative senses like 'to indicate' or 'to refer to'.
标 — tree 木 + 票 (ticket/phonetic)
Originally written 標, this is a semantic-phonetic compound: 木 (tree) gives the meaning and 票 supplies the sound. It first referred to the tip or top of a tree, then extended to any marker, sign, or label placed at a prominent point. The simplified form 标 keeps the same structure with a reduced phonetic.