个子
gèzi · HSK 2
height
📏 个 (measure word) + 子 (small noun suffix) = one's physical size
个 is the generic measure word for individuals; 子 is a common noun suffix. Together 个子 literally pegs the 'unit of a person' — used for how tall or how built someone is. High 个子 = tall; low 个子 = short.
个 — person 人 over enclosure-like component (simplified from 個)
个 is the simplified form of 個, originally a measure word for bamboo stalks. The traditional form combines 人 (person) with 固 (firm, phonetic). Over time it became the most common general-purpose measure word in Chinese, used for people and many objects without a specific classifier.
子 — pictograph of a baby/child with arms out
子 began as a pictograph of a swaddled infant with a large head and outstretched arms, originally meaning 'baby' or 'child.' From there it broadened to 'son,' 'offspring,' and a respectful suffix for masters like 孔子 (Confucius). It also became one of the twelve earthly branches.