股票
gǔpiào · HSK 6
stock certificate
📈 股 = thigh/share + 票 = ticket; a share-ticket is a stock certificate
股 originally meant thigh, extended to a portion or share. 票 is a slip or ticket. Together: a ticket representing a share of ownership — a stock certificate.
股 — meat/flesh 月 (肉) + weapon 殳
Originally a semantic-phonetic compound: 月 (a form of 肉 'flesh') gives the meaning of a body part — the thigh — while 殳 hints at the sound. The thigh meaning extended to 'section' or 'portion,' and from there to modern senses like a strand of something or a share of stock.
票 — fire 火 (bottom) + 覀 (cover/west)
Originally written with 火 (fire) below 覀, depicting sparks or embers rising from a fire. The early meaning was 'flying sparks' or 'light, floating thing.' Over time it shifted to mean a slip of paper, ticket, or note — something light and easily passed around.