法律
ほうりつ · houritsu · JLPT N4 · noun
law
⚖️📜 法律 = law (法) + rule/regulation (律): rules stacked on rules
法 means law or method (as in 方法, method); 律 means a fixed rule or rhythm (as in 規律, discipline). Sound hook: hou-ritsu is close to how-rits, as in how the writs get written. Both halves say rule, so the compound is law in its most formal sense.
法 — water 氵 + go 去
Originally written 灋, combining the water radical 氵 (suggesting a level standard, like water finding its level), the mythical beast 廌 (which judged guilt), and 去 (to remove or banish). The 廌 was later dropped, leaving 法. The core meaning evolved from 'law' or 'standard' to also include 'method' and 'way of doing'.