目录
mùlù · HSK 7
catalog
📑 目录 = 目 (item/eye) + 录 (record) — a record of items, a table of contents
目 marks each listed item and 录 means to record or register, so 目录 is the recorded list of items: a catalog or table of contents. The mù sound carries through both 目录 and the related 目标 (goal).
录 — 彐 (hand) + 氺 (water/threads)
Originally depicted a hand carving or inscribing characters, with the lower element suggesting shavings or marks. The early meaning was 'to carve' or 'to engrave', which extended to 'to record' or 'to write down'. Today it primarily means 'to record' or 'copy'.