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Word Family of Terms Originally Pronounced SAR
Semantic Values of the Sound SAR: Small/Thin/Slender + Continuum
The SAR word family is a branch of the TAR word family, emphasizing applications that have in particular to do with smallness, thinness or slenderness.
In this family we find two principal expressions of the semantic indicators noted. The first is that of arrangement of small or fine objects, particularly in the sense of alignment. We find a figure aligning small objects in 次, a representation of objects set in a line in 斉, a line of finely cut medicinal barks and roots in 剤, the management of limited water assets in 済, the left hand aligned with the right hand in assisting a task in 左, soldiers marching in place in 師, and spouses aligned in marriage in both 妻 and 婿. Irregular alignment of slender objects is found in 差 (rice plants), 雌 (tail feathers), and 姉 (female siblings).
The second principal expression is that of fine division or reduction taking place over an extended period of time, whether of sand in 砂, water in 西, bones in 死, unspecified objects in 細, or of private assets in 私.
Among the non-Everyday Use Characters, we find the following examples:
Arrangement of small/fine objects
Grasp and arrange objects lengthwise (肆)
Catch and sandwich between (叉, 扠)
Dual horns (犀)
Objects with aligned prongs (厶, 釵)
A jagged mountain (嵯)
A tall pile of earth (隮)
Jagged edges of a piece of cloth (縒)
An irregularly paved path (蹉)
The irregularly shaped corners of the eyes (眥)
Alignment of food (ingredients) (餈, 虀, 粢)
Alignment of thorns on a plant (茨)
A plant with neatly aligned rows of flowers (薺)
A person's neatly aligned navel (臍)
Hands aligned in offering (齎)
Irregularly aligned feet (此)
Ascend by taking careful, neatly aligned steps (躋)
An irregular construction of wood or stone (柴, 砦)
Irregularly groomed mustache/beard (髭)
A fish with ridges of irregular size (鮆)
A tree with branches of irregular size (柿)
The fork of a tree (杈)
Birds nesting/roosting in trees (棲, 栖)
Push objects/people aside to an equal degree (擠)
Luxuriant vegetation growing at equal speed (萋)
Sheets of chilly rain (淒)
Arrows in a quiver (靫)
A large school of fish (鰤)
Fine division or reduction taking place over time
A stone eroded into sand (沙)
A mouth parched by summer heat (嗄)
Polish, reducing an object's outer layer (瑳, 磋)
Reduce liquid content by sifting/sprinkling/drying in the sun (篩, 洒, 灑, 晒, 曬)
Dregs/lees separated from alcohol (渣)
Smooth out irregular edges (搓)
Extensions of meaning or abstract applications of the senses noted above are found in the remaining characters in this group.
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