丝 sī silk
silk; fine thread; wire
How it came to be
Two bundles of silk thread side by side, each twisted at the top. The simplified form keeps the two twists and sets them on one line.
How it is used
- Silk thread, and by extension anything thread-thin - 铁丝 (tiěsī) wire, 面丝/土豆丝 (tǔdòusī) shredded potato.
- Also a measure of the tiniest amount - 一丝不苟 (yìsī-bùgǒu) meticulous to the last detail, 一丝风也没有 not a breath of wind.
- And the source of the slang 粉丝 (fěnsī) fans (a loan-pun on English 'fans', also literally bean vermicelli).