行政
xíngzhèng · HSK 7
administration
🏛️ 行政 = 行 carry out + 政 government affairs = administration
行 means to conduct or carry out; 政 means government or political affairs. Together they name the carrying-out of government business: administration. The xíng in xíngzhèng is the same 行 as in 行动, to act.
行 — crossroads pictograph (left 彳 + right 亍)
行 originally pictured a four-way crossroads in oracle bone script, with two paths meeting. From 'road' it extended to 'walk, go, travel,' and then to 'a row, line' or 'business firm' (read háng). The two halves 彳 and 亍 are the split sides of that ancient crossroads.