领带
lǐng dài · HSK 5
necktie
👔 领带 = collar (领) + belt/band (带)
领 means collar or neck area; 带 means belt, band, or strip. Together they form the word for the band worn around the collar — a necktie. The measure word 条 (tiáo) fits long, narrow objects.
领 — 令 (command, phonetic) + 页 (head)
A semantic-phonetic compound. 页 (head/page) gives the meaning, originally referring to the neck or collar — the part connecting the head to the body. 令 supplies the sound. From 'neck/collar' it extended to 'lead, guide, receive,' since the neck leads the body.
带 — belt/sash 巾 at bottom + ornaments above
带 originally pictured a belt or sash with hanging ornaments or pendants tied at the waist; the bottom 巾 (cloth) reinforces the textile meaning. From the literal 'belt' it extended to 'carry, bring along' (as a belt holds things) and to 'zone/region' (a strip of land).