过境
guò jìng · HSK 7
to pass through a country's territory
🛂🌍 过境 = 过 (pass through) + 境 (border/territory) = cross the border in transit
过 means to pass or cross; 境 means border or territory. Together they describe goods or travelers transiting through a country without staying. The 土 (earth) radical in 境 marks it as land or territory.
过 — 辶 walk radical + 呙 (phonetic)
过 combines the walking radical 辶, suggesting motion or passage, with 呙 serving as the phonetic component. Originally it depicted crossing or passing by on foot, which extended to meanings like 'to pass,' 'to cross over,' and later 'past' or 'excessive.' The simplified form replaces the traditional 過.