献

Right dog radical (Kangxi #94) — a sitting dog with raised tail (the dot). Anchors the meaning: ritual offering of a sacrificial dog, an ancient ceremony where dogs were presented to ancestors. From this grim origin came the modern senses 'to offer, present, dedicate, donate.' Same radical in 狗 (dog), 猫 (cat), 狼 (wolf).

Left side — the 南 shape, originally a bronze ritual bell hung in the south. In 献 it represents the sacrificial vessel or instrument used in the ceremony. Traditional 獻 had a 鬳 (cauldron) here; the 1956 simplification swapped in the cleaner 南 silhouette while keeping the offering-vessel imagery.