1241/2000JLPT: N1School Grade: Junior high schoolThis character is a combination of 扌 hand and&

1241/2000

JLPT: N1

School Grade: Junior high school

This character is a combination of 扌 hand and 最 most. Here, 最 is being used in its original, literal sense of “take by force.” Together with 扌 this gives “take (by force) with the hand,” or “pluck/snatch.” It has also come to be used for “taking photographs,” likely due to the idea of a quick action.