TSUMUGU · TOCFL B2 (est.) · 字
稀
稀 ＝ 禾 ＋ 希
ㄒㄧ · xī
adj — sparse, thin, rare; watery
字源 FORM — what the parts do
禾義grain on the stalkthe crop standing thin in the field
希聲xī — gives the sound, and its own picture fitscrossed threads over cloth (㐅 + 巾): a weave more gap than thread
Grain (禾) standing thin in the field; 希 (xī) carries the sound, and 希 already pictures sparseness — crossed threads over cloth, a weave mostly holes. So the field reads sparse, then rare, then thinned-out and watery: 稀少、稀飯. 希 took the hoping work; 稀 kept the thin.
故事 STORY — a scene to remember it by
一畝田，禾苗（禾）東一株西一株——稀稀落落，數得出來。
A field of grain (禾) standing one stalk here, one there — sparse enough to count.
字源記憶法
意 · Meanings
(本義)稀疏、稀少— sparse, thin常用
→珍稀、稀有— rare, precious常用
⇒稀飯、稀薄— watery, dilute
(本義) original meaning · → ⇒ each arrow = one more step of extension