印第安纳州 (Yìn dì ān nà zhōu) — Indiana, US state

Two or more meaningful parts placed together so that their meanings combine into a new one.

印 pairs 爪 (hand) with 卩 (kneeling person), showing a hand pressing down on a kneeling person.

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

第 shows 𥫗, the bamboo strips once used for writing and sorting, with 弟 giving the sound.

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

In 安, 宀 sits above a seated 女 on a cushion; 宀 is the meaning part, 女 is the sound part, and the character originally meant sitting at ease.

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 納; 纳 is its simplified writing.

The traditional form 納 has 糸 (silk, thin thread) and 内, which gives the sound; the simplified 纳 is a shorthand.

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

州 originally drew an islet in a river.