难免
nánmiǎn · HSK 4
hard to avoid
难 (hard) + 免 (avoid) = hard to avoid
难 means difficult/hard and 免 means to avoid or exempt. Together 难免 literally reads hard-to-avoid, meaning something is unavoidable or bound to happen.
难 — 又 (right hand) + 隹 (short-tailed bird)
Originally written with 堇 (clay) plus 隹 (bird), 難 depicted a rare bird and was borrowed to mean 'difficult.' The modern simplified form replaces the left side with 又 (hand). The phonetic role of the original left component gave the reading nán.
免 — pictograph of a person 人 with a hat or helmet
免 originally depicted a person wearing a hat or helmet, suggesting removal or taking off. The meaning shifted to 'avoid, exempt, escape from' — as in escaping a duty or being spared. It is graphically related to 兔 (rabbit), but the two characters have distinct origins.