探望
tànwàng · HSK 7
visit
👀 探 probe + 望 gaze afar = go check on and look in on someone = visit
探 means to probe or explore; 望 means to gaze into the distance. Together: you travel out to probe how someone is doing and gaze upon them, i.e. pay a visit or look about. Sound: tànwàng, tan then wang.
探 — hand radical 扌 + 罙 (depth/cave)
探 combines the hand radical 扌 with 罙, which depicts a hand reaching into a cave or deep place. The original sense was reaching in to feel for or retrieve something hidden, which extended to 'probe,' 'search,' and 'explore.' 罙 also hints at the sound.
望 — 亡 (phonetic) + 月 moon + 王 king/standing figure
Originally a pictograph of a person standing on tiptoe gazing at the moon, expressing the idea of looking far into the distance. Over time the figure was reshaped and 亡 was added as a phonetic element. The meaning extended from 'gaze afar' to 'hope for' or 'expect.'