stake, post, picket
杭 centers on a pointed piece of wood driven into the ground: a stake, post, or picket used for support, marking, or fencing.
杭 combines 木 (tree, wood) with 亢, which likely contributes the sound. The character originally referred to a wooden stake or post.
The left side is a tree 木, and the right side 亢 looks like a tall, sturdy frame. Picture a wooden stake driven into the ground, standing tall like a post.
For コウ, imagine a stake being hammered into the ground with a loud 'ko' sound: ko -> コウ, and the wooden post stands firm.
stake; post; pile; picket
Hangzhou (China)
stakes planted on the ground or underwater at irregular angles and intervals (to obstruct the enemy)
uneven teeth
the nail that sticks out gets hammered down; people that stick out too much get punished
stump
bearing pile
pile shaft friction
pile-driving; piling
pile driver; pile-driver
pile-driving
fulcrum peg (fitted into the cavity in an oar as part of a traditional oarlock)
penis; dick
mooring pole