This logogram is of ideographic origin and it was designed to evoke:

To dig out 扌 a hollow 穵; 穵 also provides the pronunciation

  • 挖 to dig, to excavate wā
    • 扌 hand shǒu
    • 穵 a deep hollow; to dig out, to gouge wā
      • 穴 cave, den, hole xué
        • 宀 roof; house mián
        • 八 eight; all around, all sides bā
      • 乙 second; 2nd heavenly stem yǐ

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