工 gōng — work; worker

A way to remember it

A carpenter's square, the tool that makes a corner true. From the tool came the work, and 工 now opens 工作 (work), 工人 (worker) and 工具 (tool).

A picture that makes the shape stick — not a claim about the character’s history.

Draft — written with AI help and not yet read by a person. What that means.