激活
jī huó · HSK 7
to activate
⚡ 激 stimulate + 活 alive = stir into life = activate
激 carries the sense of stirring up or stimulating; 活 means alive or living. Stimulating something into a living, working state is exactly what it means to activate it.
活 — water radical 氵 + tongue 舌
Originally a phono-semantic compound: 氵 (water) suggests flowing or liveliness, while 舌 (tongue) hints at the sound. Early forms depicted gushing water, conveying the idea of being lively or alive. The meaning broadened from 'flowing water' to 'living, alive, active.'