TSUMUGU · B1 (est.) · 字
灰
ㄏㄨㄟ · huī
noun/adj — ash; grey; downhearted
字源 FORM — what the parts do
A hand (又) above the fire (火) — the blaze has died, and the hand can rake through the cool remains: ash (灰燼, 骨灰). No sound part; both halves hold the meaning. From the colour of ash comes grey (灰色), and from a heart burned out, low spirits: 灰心 (disheartened).
故事 STORY — a scene to remember it by
火（火）滅了，手（又）伸進去撥，撥出一把冷灰。
The fire (火) has gone out; the hand (又) reaches in and rakes up a fistful of cold ash.
字源記憶法
意 · Meanings
(本義)灰、灰燼— ash常用
→灰色— grey常用
⇒灰心、心灰意冷— disheartened, low
(本義) original meaning · → ⇒ each arrow = one more step of extension
關 · Related
火huǒthe bare half — the fire, before the hand was added炭tànthe partner — 炭 is charcoal still solid, 灰 is what's left after it burns