挂 (掛 in traditional form – guà) is a character that vividly depicts the act of hanging or suspending something. Its structure provides a clear visual representation of this action.

Here’s a breakdown:

• 扌 (shǒu): This radical, a stylized hand, indicates an action performed by hand. It shows that the character involves using the hand to do something.
• 圭 (guī): This component originally represented a jade tablet used in ancient rituals. In this context, it’s believed to depict an object being hung or suspended.

Combining these elements, the original meaning of 挂 likely depicted the act of “hanging something up with the hand.” This could refer to hanging clothes, tools, or decorations.

Over time, the meaning of 挂 expanded to include various related actions and states:

• To hang: This is the most common meaning, referring to suspending something from a hook or other support.
• To be concerned/worried: This metaphorical meaning likely arose from the image of something weighing on one’s mind, like an object hanging and causing concern.
• To register/record: This meaning could be connected to the ancient practice of hanging up notices or announcements.
• To make a phone call (dialectal): This usage might be related to the act of hanging up a phone receiver.
• To be caught/snagged: This implies something getting hooked or entangled on something else.

The character 挂 is used in various contexts related to hanging and other related meanings:

• 挂衣服 (guà yīfu): To hang clothes
• 挂念 (guàniàn): To be concerned about, to miss
• 挂号 (guàhào): To register (at a hospital)
• 挂断电话 (guàduàn diànhuà): To hang up the phone

The evolution of 挂 from a depiction of hanging an object to a character with diverse meanings demonstrates the versatility of the Chinese writing system. Its structure reminds us of the simple act of hanging and how this action can be extended to represent abstract concepts like concern and connection.