lift, raise

師 is composed of a variant of 阜 (hill) and 帀 (surround). 阜 means a hill or elevated ground, while 帀 means to encircle or surround. Therefore, 師 conveys the idea of an army camping and stationing itself in a strategic, difficult-to-access place. Its original meaning is an army or troops. Since warfare requires specialized skills or knowledge, 師 later also came to refer to a person with specialized expertise or someone who imparts knowledge.