算盘
suàn pán · HSK 7
scheme
🧮 算盘 = 算 calculate + 盘 tray; a calculating tray, and figuratively a scheme
算 is to calculate or count, 盘 is a tray or plate, so an abacus is the counting tray you slide beads on. The same word doubles as plan or scheme, as in working out your own private calculations.
算 — bamboo 竹 + abacus 具 (eye 目 + two hands 廾)
Originally depicted counting with bamboo rods on an abacus-like device. The top 竹 (bamboo) refers to the bamboo counting sticks used in ancient Chinese arithmetic, while the bottom shows hands manipulating them. The meaning broadened from 'to count' to 'to calculate' or 'to plan'.
盘 — 舟 boat (phonetic) + 皿 dish (meaning)
Originally written 槃 with 木 wood, depicting a wooden tray or basin. The modern form 盘 keeps 皿 (dish/vessel) as the meaning component and uses 舟 as a phonetic hint. From 'flat tray' it extended to 'plate,' 'coil/wind around,' and 'examine.'