路线
lùxiàn · HSK 3
path
🛤️ 路 (road) + 线 (line) = road-line, i.e. a route
路 means road or path; 线 means line or thread. Together 路线 is literally a road-line — the line a road traces — hence route, itinerary, or course of action.
路 — foot 足 + each 各 (phonetic)
路 is a semantic-phonetic compound. The foot radical 足 on the left signals meaning related to walking or travel, while 各 on the right hints at the ancient pronunciation. Originally referring to a road traveled on foot, it broadened to mean 'road, path, route' in general.
线 — silk radical 纟 + 戋 (jiān, phonetic)
线 is a semantic-phonetic compound. The silk radical 纟 signals the meaning 'thread' or 'string,' while 戋 hints at the sound. Originally referring to silk thread, its meaning broadened to any thin line, wire, or route. The traditional form is 線.