直接
zhíjiē · HSK 2
direct
➡️ 直 = straight + 接 = connect; straight-connect = direct
直 means straight or upright; 接 means to connect, join, or receive. Together 直接 literally is straight-connect, no detours or middlemen, hence direct or immediate.
直 — 十 ten + 目 eye + 乚 hidden line
Originally depicted an eye (目) looking straight along a vertical line, suggesting a direct, unswerving gaze. The form combines 目 'eye' with strokes indicating straightness. From this came the meanings 'straight,' 'upright,' and by extension 'honest' or 'direct.'
接 — hand 扌 + concubine 妾 (phonetic)
接 is a semantic-phonetic compound. The hand radical 扌 carries the meaning of receiving or joining with the hand, while 妾 supplies the sound. From 'taking with the hand' it broadened to 'receive, meet, connect, join together'.