间接
jiànjiē · HSK 5
indirect
↔️ 间 = gap/between + 接 = connect → connect via a gap, not directly
间 means space/gap between things; 接 means to join or connect. Together: a connection made through something in between rather than head-on — hence indirect or collateral.
间 — gate 門 + sun 日 (originally moon 月)
Originally written 閒, showing the moon 月 shining through a gate 門 — the gap or space between the doors. The moon was later replaced by 日 (sun), giving the modern 间. The core meaning 'space/interval between' extended to time intervals, rooms, and the measure word for buildings.
接 — hand 扌 + concubine 妾 (phonetic)
接 is a semantic-phonetic compound. The hand radical 扌 carries the meaning of receiving or joining with the hand, while 妾 supplies the sound. From 'taking with the hand' it broadened to 'receive, meet, connect, join together'.