榜样
bǎng yàng · HSK 7
model
🏆 bǎng sounds like BANG — bang the gong for the top example on the honor BOARD
榜 originally means a posted list or honor board; 样 means appearance or manner. Together: the person whose name goes BANG on the board as the model to follow.
样 — wood radical 木 + sheep 羊
样 is a phono-semantic compound. The wood radical 木 originally hinted at meaning (a wooden model or sample), while 羊 (sheep) supplies the sound. From 'wooden pattern/template' it broadened to mean 'shape, form, kind, manner'.