辞
cí · HSK 7
to resign
👋 辞 = tongue (舌) twisted by thorns (辛) — too painful to stay, so you resign
The left side 舌 means tongue and the right side 辛 means bitter or hard. When words become bitter and hard, you hand in your resignation and take leave.
辞 — 舌 (tongue) + 辛 (bitter/blade)
Originally written 辭, depicting hands sorting tangled threads beside 辛 (a knife or judgment), meaning to settle disputes with words. The modern simplified form replaces the left side with 舌 (tongue), reinforcing the speech sense. Meanings extended from 'legal statement' to 'words, phrases, to take leave.'