預金 (yokin: deposit; bank account, savings) to deposit + money
残額 (zangaku: remaining amount; balance (of an account))
to remain + amount (of money)
Both 預 (to deposit) and 額 (amount (of money)) contain the 頁 radical, and both kanji are related to banking. Just a coincidence? Before we explore that idea, let’s look at the meanings of each character.
The kanji 預 (YO, azu(keru)) means “to deposit” and shows up in words about depositing the following:
• money: 預貯金 (yochokin: deposits and savings)
to deposit + to store up + money
• blood: 預血する (yoketsu suru: to deposit blood (in a blood
bank)) to deposit + blood
• children (with caretakers): 預ける (azukeru: to leave a child in
the care of)
Meanwhile, 額 (GAKU, hitai) originally meant “forehead” but now means “amount,” most of the time. This character appears in phrases about the following:
• monetary amounts: 巨大な額 (kyodaina gaku: colossal amount)
giant + big + amount (of money)
• picture frames: 額にする (gaku ni suru: to set in a frame)
• foreheads: 広い額 (hiroi hitai: broad forehead; high brow)
broad + forehead“Broad forehead” and “high brow” seem like rather different things, but a native speaker tells me that 広い can refer to both width and height, so the forehead could be 広い in either direction.
OK, now for the etymologies of our two main kanji. Whereas 貝 means “money” and “shell,” 頁 is the “big shell” radical that goes by the name of ōgai. Nevertheless, 頁 doesn’t actually mean “shell,” and despite its prevalence in banking terms, it doesn’t mean “money,” either. As we’ve seen in the past, 頁 often means “page.” But in 預 and 額, this radical doesn’t mean that at all.
In 預, says Henshall, 頁 is “face.” Meanwhile, 予 means “already” but phonetically contributes the sense of “relaxation.” So 預 originally meant a facial expression of relaxation and comfort. Now, though, it means “to deposit, look after.” I suppose those actions bring comfort to the people served.
Henshall says that in 額, the 頁 is “head.” Although 客 is “visitor,” 客 acts phonetically here to express “shave.” The shaven part of the head was a reference to the forehead. In ancient China, he says, people (men, I’m guessing) often exaggerated the forehead by shaving back the hairline. “(Picture) frame” is an associated meaning from the idea of a clear, angular area. Ultimately, though, he doesn’t know how 額 came to mean “amount” or “sum.” Oh, well!
None of this answers my question in the least. I can only conclude that it is indeed coincidental that 頁 pops up in two characters associated with financial wheelings and dealings.
