妄自菲薄 (wàng zì fēi bó) — to underestimate oneself; to have an inferiority complex

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

妄 combines 亡, which supplies the sound, with 女, a woman.

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

假借jiǎjièLater borrowed for its sound alone — the picture has nothing to do with today’s meaning.

自 originally drew a nose. It was borrowed purely for its sound to write 自, so the picture and the meaning are unrelated.

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

菲 puts 艹, showing a plant, together with 非, which gives its sound.

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

薄 combines 艹, a grass part, with 溥 as the sound part.