聚
jù · HSK 4
gather
👥 取 (take) on top + 乑 (crowd of people below) = take a crowd → gather
The top component 取 means take or seize; the bottom 乑 is three 人 (people) clustered together, signaling a crowd. Together: pulling a crowd into one spot — to assemble or gather.
聚 — 取 (qǔ) phonetic + 乑 (yín, crowd of people)
聚 originally depicted a gathering of people, with 乑 showing three figures standing together to suggest a crowd. The component 取 (to take) provides the phonetic clue for the reading jù. Over time the meaning broadened from 'assembling people' to any kind of gathering, collecting, or amassing.