he Chinese word 照顾 (zhàogù) is composed of two characters:

• 照 (zhào): Originally, this character depicted fire (灬) shining on a person (召). This conveys the idea of illuminating, shining upon, or looking at something closely.

• 顾 (gù): This character was originally a pictogram of a person turning their head back to look. It signifies looking back, paying attention to, or caring for something.

Therefore, the original meaning derived from the structure of 照顾 was to “shine a light on” and “look back at” something. This implies paying close attention to and taking care of something or someone.

Over time, the meaning evolved into the modern understanding of “to look after,” “to care for,” or “to attend to.” The original visual imagery of shining light and turning back to look reinforces the concept of attentive care and consideration.