取り次ぐ
とりつぐ · toritsugu · JLPT N1 · verb-godan
to act as an agent for
📨 取 (take) + 次 (next) + ぐ: take the message and pass it to the next person
取り次ぐ means to relay something from one person to the next. 取る (take) plus 次ぐ (pass along next) gives the sense of taking something and handing it on to whoever comes next in line.
取 — ear 耳 + hand 又
取 originally depicted a hand (又) grasping an ear (耳), referencing the ancient practice of soldiers cutting off enemies' left ears as proof of kills to claim rewards. The meaning broadened from 'seize/take by force' to the general sense of 'take, get, obtain' used today.
次 — 冫 ice + 欠 yawn/lack
Originally depicted a person (欠) sighing or hesitating, with 二 (later written 冫) marking repetition or a secondary position. The core sense developed from 'second in order' or 'next' into related meanings like 'sequence,' 'time/occurrence,' and 'inferior quality.'