ソウ, ゾウ, つかさ, ともがら, へや

cadet, friend

JLPT1 G7 S11 F1998

The relevant oracle bone form of this character is mouth beneath a representation# of two slender, oblong sacks (compare ). Here, the sacks indicate an array of similar, ordinary objects. The combination of elements suggests an array/*group* of ordinary (= low-ranking) officials meeting and conversing → *official*; (low-ranking) *office(r)*; *comrade*.

[Full Kanji Etymology List]