勺子
sháo zi · HSK 4
spoon
🥄 勺 = ladle/scoop + 子 = noun suffix; sháo rhymes with 'shallow' scoop
勺 on its own means ladle or scoop; 子 is a common noun suffix attached to everyday objects (桌子 table, 椅子 chair). The 勺 character is itself a pictograph of a ladle holding a drop.
勺 — ladle pictograph with dot for contents
勺 is a pictograph of a ladle or small spoon, with the curved stroke depicting the bowl and handle, and the dot inside representing the liquid or food being scooped. It originally meant 'ladle' and by extension became a unit of volume (one-tenth of a 合). The modern reading sháo preserves this old measuring-spoon sense.
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.