社
shè · HSK 5
society
⛩️ 社 = 礻(altar) + 土(earth) — the earth-god shrine, root of 'community'
Originally the altar to the god of the soil where villagers gathered, so 社 came to mean the group itself: society, club, agency. Modern compounds: 社会 society, 公司 → 社 in 社长 (company head).
社 — 示 (altar/spirit) + 土 (earth)
Originally referred to the god of the soil and the altar where villagers worshipped it. The 示 component signals ritual or spirits, while 土 means earth, together evoking a community shrine. The meaning later broadened to 'community' and 'society'.