表达
biǎodá · HSK 3
express
🗣️ 表 = surface/express + 达 = reach/convey
表 means outward surface or to show; 达 means to reach or arrive. Together: thoughts shown outwardly until they reach the listener — to express or convey.
表 — fur 毛 on top + garment 衣 below
Originally depicted an outer fur garment, with 毛 (fur) above 衣 (clothing), showing the hairy outside of a coat. From 'outer garment' it extended to mean 'outside, surface,' then 'to show, express, display,' and later 'table, chart' as something laid out on the surface.