民间
mínjiān · HSK 3
grass roots
👥 民 (people) + 间 (among) = among the people
民 means 'the people/folk' and 间 means 'between/among'. Together: 'among the folk' — i.e. grassroots, nongovernmental, folk-level. Think 'folk music' = 民间音乐.
间 — gate 門 + sun 日 (originally moon 月)
Originally written 閒, showing the moon 月 shining through a gate 門 — the gap or space between the doors. The moon was later replaced by 日 (sun), giving the modern 间. The core meaning 'space/interval between' extended to time intervals, rooms, and the measure word for buildings.