near, intimate

親 is composed of 辛 (sharp tool), 木 (wood), and 見 (see). 辛 is a pictograph of a chisel-like tool, 木 is a pictograph of a tree, and 見 depicts a person with wide-open eyes. When chopping wood, one must keep their eyes wide open to avoid injuring themselves or others, requiring close attention. To see clearly, one cannot be too far away, thus 親 carries the meaning of closeness or intimacy.