翻来覆去 (fān lái fù qù) — to toss and turn (in bed, sleepless); again and again, repeatedly (figurative)

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

翻 pairs 羽 (wings) with 番, which gives the sound. The shape shows something fluttering.

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

This origin belongs to the traditional form 來; 来 is its simplified writing.

The traditional form 來 shows a wheat plant: a central ear, upward leaves, and downward stem and roots. The simplified 来 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.

覆 pairs 襾, a part connected to the meaning, with 復, which gives the sound.

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

去 pairs 大, a man, with 口, a mouth or object. The evidence reads this as a man leaving a place, a man opening his mouth, or a cover over an object.