江淮官话

• 氵(water; liquid)RADICAL
• 工(craftsman; work)PHONETIC

A river (江) is water flowing powerfully like a laborer working tirelessly without pause.

• 宀(roof)RADICAL
• 㠯(tool; work)ASSOCIATIVE

An official is a person who does work inside the building of the state.

• 言(speech; words)RADICAL
• 舌(blade; tongue)PHONO-SEMANTIC

Speech is what is created from the tongue.