放之四海而皆准

• 方(direction; square)PHONO-SEMANTIC
• 攵(hand holding striking stick; strike with a stick)RADICAL

Use a stick to chase and drive away in all directions to release and liberate.

• 之(walk; arrive; step on ground)ASSOCIATIVE

A footstep moving forward on the ground represents "go to," which then becomes a grammatical particle.

• 囗(frame; surround)RADICAL
• 儿(person; foot)ASSOCIATIVE

Four sides of a square frame surround two legs — the ancient form of the number four.

• 氵(water; liquid)RADICAL
• 每(each; always)PHONO-SEMANTIC

The sea is a vast expanse of water that stretches boundlessly every day.

• 而(beard; whiskers (pictographic))ASSOCIATIVE

A drooping beard drawn downward became the connective word meaning "and, but, moreover" in sentences.

• 比(compare; place side by side)ASSOCIATIVE
• 白(white; clear)RADICAL

When people stand beside each other to compare, all become equally clear.

• 冫(ice; cold)RADICAL
• 隹(short-tailed bird)PHONETIC

Cold ice water helps measure water level accurately, thus meaning standard, permissible.