teach, instruct, be aroused, awake, intelligent
斅 centers on imparting knowledge and awakening understanding: teaching, instructing, and the resulting state of being aroused, awake, or intelligent.
斅 combines 學 (learn, study) with 攴 (action, strike), suggesting teaching as an active process of imparting learning. The exact historical development is uncertain, but the component relationship is clear.
On the left is 學 (learning), and on the right is 攴 (a hand holding a stick, suggesting action). Picture a teacher actively using a pointer to awaken intelligence in a student.
For ガク, imagine a teacher saying 'Gak!' as they tap the board to arouse a sleepy student: 'Gak!' -> ガク, and the student becomes awake and intelligent.