recommend, mat, advise, encourage, offer
薦 centers on putting something forward for consideration or use: recommending a person, advising a course of action, or offering something like a mat for sitting. The mat sense is a concrete object placed under someone, which extends naturally to the idea of presenting or supporting.
薦 combines 艹 (grass) with 廌, a component historically associated with a mythical beast that could distinguish right from wrong. The original idea may have been grass used as bedding or a mat, possibly offered to such a beast, leading to the extended sense of presenting or recommending.
Picture grass 艹 spread under a mythical beast 廌 as a mat, offering it a comfortable place to rest. From this act of presenting a mat comes the idea of recommending or offering something to someone.
For セン, imagine a centipede crawling onto the grass mat, and you recommend it as a pet: cent -> セン.
recommendation; referral; endorsement
self-recommendation; self-nomination; putting oneself forward
recommendation (by others)
woven straw mat (orig. made of wild rice leaves)
recommendation to the throne
beggar
designated school recommendation; recommendation for admission from a school designated by the university
recommender; nominator; referee
admission based on recommendation; enrolment by recommendation (enrollment)
entrance examination for selected candidates (who have been recommended to the university)
recommended books; recommended reading
recommendation; nomination
(university) admission category for recommended candidates
letter of invitation; letter of recommendation; reference
recommender; nominator; referee
loosely woven mat of wild rice leaves
bulrush mat
mendicant Zen priest of the Fuke sect
recommendation
cask wrapped in straw matting