激光
jī guāng · HSK 7
laser
🔦 激光 = 激 (excite/intense) + 光 (light): excited light
激 means to excite or stir up, 光 means light. A laser literally is excited, amplified light, so the compound lines up with the real physics of how lasers work.
光 — fire 火 (top) + person 儿 (bottom)
Originally a pictograph of a person with fire above their head, depicting a torchbearer or the radiance from a flame. The character evolved to mean 'light' or 'brightness' in general, and by extension 'glory' and 'to shine.' The modern top component is a stylized form of 火 (fire).