其次
qícì · HSK 3
second
其 (that) + 次 (next/order) = that which comes next; 'secondly'
次 means order or sequence (think 次序). Paired with 其, the compound marks the second item in a list — English 'next' or 'secondly' after 首先 (firstly).
其 — top 八 + winnowing basket 其 (originally 箕)
Originally a pictograph of a bamboo winnowing basket, now written 箕 with the bamboo radical added on top. The original form 其 was borrowed phonetically to write the pronoun and particle meaning 'his/her/its' or 'that.' This loan use became dominant, so a new character 箕 was created for the basket meaning.
次 — 冫 ice + 欠 yawn/lack
Originally depicted a person (欠) sighing or hesitating, with 二 (later written 冫) marking repetition or a secondary position. The core sense developed from 'second in order' or 'next' into related meanings like 'sequence,' 'time/occurrence,' and 'inferior quality.'