俯首称臣 (fǔ shǒu chēng chén) — to bow and submit; to surrender humbly (as a vassal)

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

俯 uses 府 to show the sound fǔ and 勹 to show a person bending over; the modern left side comes from 勹.

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

The shape comes from an old drawing of an animal's head, showing a long mouth and horns; the version with hair became 首.

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

This origin belongs to the traditional form 稱; 称 is its simplified writing.

The traditional form 稱 pairs 禾 (rice) with 爯, a part giving the sound; it is explained as measuring rice. The simplified 称 is a later shorthand.

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

臣 is shaped like a man's vertical eye looking downward.