Source: Make Me a Hanzi.
长 is a shorthand for 長, a picture of a long-haired elder walking with a cane. It first meant 'to grow old', which led to 'long' in time and space, 'to be good at', and 'a strong point'. Read zhǎng, it means 'to grow', 'increase', or 'leader'.
Drawn as: long-haired old person; person using cane
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