Why "保重" means "take care"?

Question

As far as I have learnt, for each Chinese word with more than one character, its meaning is formed from that of each character which it comprises. However, I cannot understand how the meaning of 保重 is formed this way. I thought that:

• 保 = to protect
• 重 = important

what would 保 and 重 mean for this word? How does it go from "to protect the important one" to "take care"?

Thanks in advance!

Answer 1

It is true that this word originally comes from 《晋书·夏侯湛传》：“方将保重啬神，独善其身。” But we use it in situation of farewell. 珍重 is heavier than 保重。 珍重包含了珍惜cherish.

保 是保住，保持，守 。 keep， reserve probably.

重 has two tones:

1. zhòng 是分量较大，与“轻”相反。 large amount or heavy. opposite with light. 很重，举重。
2. chóng means again. doubled. 重复，重播。

In the phrase 保重 is zhòng. In my appoint: strong power. strength.

Does it make sense? (Reference.)

Answer 2

It is an ancient word for modern use.In ancient word "保重" came from "保重啬神" in Taoism and means "Keep healty".It become a popular word but nobody care the original reference in Chinese.