praise, state, weigh

稱 is composed of 禾 (grain) and 爯 (lift to weigh). 爯 depicts a hand lifting a fish to estimate its weight, originally meaning to lift an object with the hand or to weigh, later extending to mean suitable or to praise. 禾 is a pictograph of a cereal plant, and grains were the primary commodity in ancient trade, frequently requiring weighing, so 稱 was created to represent the meaning of 爯. Additionally, praising someone requires verbal expression, so 稱 also carries the meaning of to state or describe.