众志成城 (zhòng zhì chéng chéng) — unity is strength (idiom); with collective will, anything is possible

A drawing of the thing itself, worn down over three thousand years into a few strokes.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 眾; 众 is its simplified writing.

The traditional form 眾 shows three people under a sun-like shape, meaning a crowd gathered under the sun; the simplified 众 is a later shorthand.

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

志 has 心, the heart, below and a simplified top from 之 for sound.

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

成 puts 戊, a weapon, beside 丁, which gives the sound. The weapon part relates to protection, as in the old sense of city walls.

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

城 pairs 土 (soil) with 成 as a sound part, because city walls were originally made of stamped earth.