磨 mó millstone
millstone; to grind; to polish; to wear down; to pester
How it came to be
Hemp stripped under a shelter, over a stone. Both halves are about wearing a thing down by working at it: the stone is the tool and the hemp is the sound.
How it is used
- To grind/polish/wear down, and to dawdle/pester - 打磨 (dǎmó) to polish, 折磨 (zhémó) to torment, 磨合 (móhé) to break in / work out kinks (a team, an engine), 磨炼 (móliàn) to temper (oneself).
- 磨蹭 (móceng) means to dilly-dally; 磨嘴皮子 to nag. Read mò it means a millstone: 磨面 (mò miàn) to grind flour; 卸磨杀驴 (xièmò-shālǘ) to ditch someone once they've served their use.