undertake, burden, lotus

阿 is composed of the radical 阜 (mound) and 可 (can). 阜 is a pictograph of an earthen hill, while 可 represents an elder opening their mouth to speak and carries the sense of being high above others. Therefore, the original meaning of 阿 is a tall mountain or ridge. A high mountain ridge can provide shelter from wind and rain and offer support to lean on. From this, 阿 also came to mean to flatter, to curry favor, or to show partiality.