疗法
liáofǎ · HSK 7
therapy
💊 疗 cure + 法 method = a curing method, i.e. a therapy or treatment
疗 means to cure or heal; 法 means method or way. Together they name the systematic method of curing, so 疗法 lands on therapy or treatment. The 法 ending mirrors other - method words like 方法 and 用法.
法 — water 氵 + go 去
Originally written 灋, combining the water radical 氵 (suggesting a level standard, like water finding its level), the mythical beast 廌 (which judged guilt), and 去 (to remove or banish). The 廌 was later dropped, leaving 法. The core meaning evolved from 'law' or 'standard' to also include 'method' and 'way of doing'.