sticky, adhere

黏 is composed of 黍 (millet) and 占 (divination). 黍 is a pictograph of a type of grain, while 占 refers to the act of divining by observing cracks on a tortoise shell, which are seen as omens closely tied to fate, extending to mean adhesion or sticking closely. Ancient people would cook grain seeds into a sticky paste with adhesive properties, allowing objects to stick together, as represented by 黏.