遵守
zūnshǒu · HSK 5
to comply with; to abide by; to respect (an agreement)
📜 遵 zūn = follow rules + 守 shǒu = guard; together: obey and uphold
遵 carries 辶 (walking) with 尊 (honour/revere) — to walk in line with what is honoured. 守 shows a hand under a roof, guarding the house. Combined: honour the rule and guard it.
守 — roof 宀 + hand/measure 寸
Originally depicts a hand (寸) under a roof (宀), suggesting someone guarding or maintaining a household. The combination evokes the idea of holding or keeping watch over a place. From this concrete image of guarding a home, the meaning broadened to 'guard,' 'protect,' 'keep,' and 'observe (rules).'