话到嘴边留三分

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

Speech is what is created from the tongue.

• 至(arrive; reach)ASSOCIATIVE
• 刂(knife; blade (radical))RADICAL

A sword cutting through the destination is when you truly "arrive" at your goal.

• 口(mouth; opening)RADICAL
• 觜(beak; bill)PHONETIC

A person's mouth is like a bird's beak, used for eating and speaking.

• 辶(step; move)RADICAL
• 力(strength; power)PHONETIC

Walking along the edge requires using force to take each step carefully.

• 卯(hour of the Cat; crack; gap)PHONETIC
• 田(field; land)RADICAL

To keep the field of land from the Mão hour onward, hold it forever without leaving.

• 一(one; horizontal stroke)ASSOCIATIVE
• 二(two (pictograph – two horizontal strokes))ASSOCIATIVE

Three horizontal strokes stacked on top of each other symbolize the number three.

• 八(divide; separate; eight)ASSOCIATIVE
• 刀(knife; blade; sword)RADICAL

Using a knife to chop something in half represents division or separation.