集邮
jí yoú · HSK 7
stamp collecting
📮✉️ 集邮 = 集 collect + 邮 mail/post = collecting postage stamps
邮 means mail or postal, the same 邮 in 邮票 (postage stamp) and 邮局 (post office). So 集邮 is literally gathering postal items, the hobby of philately. Sounds: jí yóu, with yóu like the yo in yo-yo.
集 — bird 隹 on top of tree 木
集 is an ideograph showing a bird (隹) perched on a tree (木). The original form depicted three birds gathering on a tree, later simplified to one. From 'birds flocking together' it extended to mean 'gather, collect, assemble,' and by extension 'collection' or 'volume' of writings.
邮 — 由 (cause) + 阝 (city radical 邑)
邮 means 'post, mail.' The right-side 阝 derives from 邑 (city/settlement), pointing to relay stations along roads. The simplified form pairs this with 由, which here mainly carries the sound. Historically 邮 referred to the courier posts where messengers changed horses to relay official messages.