arrive, overlook

臨 is composed of 臣 (the picture of an popped eye out of reverence), 人(a man's body) and 品(the picture of three objects), it is a picture of an eye overlooking something. When someone wants to get a good view(to see all three objects), he needs to stay at a higher position and looks from there. On the other hand, if someone want to overlook, he needs to get close to those objects he wants to see, so 臨 also describe something which is near or be about to, and has the meaning of arrival.