学

Bottom child radical — also the indexing radical (Kangxi #39). 子 depicts a swaddled baby with arms out. Below the schoolhouse roof and the busy hands above, the picture is a child seated under instruction. The whole compound paints classical pedagogy: hands teaching a child indoors.

Top three small strokes — the simplified residue of an older top showing two hands grasping crossed sticks (the counting rods of ancient pedagogy). The PRC reform compressed those hands into three little marks. Reads pictographically as 'busy little fingers above a cover,' the activity of a young learner.

Middle cover — a roof-like hood. In 学 it depicts the schoolhouse roof under which the learning happens. Same shape in 字, 安, 写 — all things that take place inside a sheltered space. The whole char is indexed under Kangxi #39 子 (child) — the pupil sitting under the roof.