敢
gǎn · HSK 3
dare
💪 敢 = ear 耳 + hand 又 holding tool — bold enough to grab
Right side is 攵/又 (a hand with a stick); left side historically depicts seizing by the ear. The whole character means to dare or have the courage to act decisively.
敢 — 耳 ear + 又 hand (right) + 攵-like top
Oracle bone forms show a hand seizing an animal or object, suggesting boldness in taking hold. Later script regularized the shape, with components resembling a hand grasping near an ear. The original sense of daring to seize extended to the modern meaning 'to dare' or 'bold.'