宀
mián
What happens when a roof lands on top of a character
The picture One sheet coming down from above and covering everything standing under it. 宀 is a roof closed on all sides; 广 is half a roof with one side open.
Where the picture shows up in 宀
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the household under the roof
周末我们在家吃饭。
zhōumò wǒmen zài jiā chīfàn
On weekends we eat at home.
A family under one roof, all elbows around a single table
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covered, so the nerves settle
路上注意安全。
lùshang zhùyì ānquán
Take care on the way.
Shoulders dropping and breath easing the moment you step under the roof
安全 is the state of being covered and whole; 安心 wears the same roof.
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a room partitioned off
办公室在三楼。
bàngōngshì zài sān lóu
The office is on the third floor.
One floor walled into separate boxes, each its own room
In 办公室, 教室, 浴室, the 室 is the one room where that thing is done.
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an outsider brought inside
客人已经到了。
kèrén yǐjīng dào le
The guest has already arrived.
A door opening and the person who stood outside stepping under the roof
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a night spent under cover
学生都住在宿舍。
xuéshēng dōu zhù zài sùshè
The students all live in the dorm.
Bedding laid out under one roof, bodies side by side waiting out the night
宿 is to sleep a night under cover — 住宿 and 宿舍 both come from it.
All of it in one picture
宀 is a single roof laid over the top. Put a household under it and you get home; put the heart under it and you get safety; divide the space under it and you get rooms. Let someone from outside step under it and they are a guest; let the night pass under it and it is where you sleep. So any character wearing 宀 on its head is describing something taken in and covered over.