表示
ひょうじ · hyouji · JLPT N3 · noun
indication
🖥️ 表示 = surface (表) + show (示): to put something on the surface
表 means surface or outside, as in 表面 (surface), and 示 means to show or point out, as in 示す. Showing something on the surface gives you display or indication. You often see 表示 on screen settings.
表 — fur 毛 on top + garment 衣 below
Originally depicted an outer fur garment, with 毛 (fur) above 衣 (clothing), showing the hairy outside of a coat. From 'outer garment' it extended to mean 'outside, surface,' then 'to show, express, display,' and later 'table, chart' as something laid out on the surface.
示 — altar 示 (二 + 小); originally 丅 with three strokes
示 is a pictograph of an ancient altar or sacrificial stand, with the top line representing heaven and the strokes below depicting offerings or hanging banners. It originally meant 'to show' something to the spirits, and by extension came to mean 'to show, display, or indicate' in general. As a radical, it appears in many characters related to ritual, worship, and divine matters.