Origin

This character combines a sound hint with a meaning component. The left part, 亥, tells you roughly how to pronounce the character (gai). The right part, 力 (power or force), is the classifying radical that points toward the meaning—it suggests something involving forceful action or authority. Together, these components create a character meaning to censure or investigate someone officially, which involves using the power and authority of the law or government. The sound element and the power element work together to capture both how the word sounds and what kind of action it describes.