影子
yǐngzi · HSK 4
silhouette
👤 影 = scenery 景 + hair-strokes 彡; 子 = noun suffix; literally little shadow
影 pairs 景 (jǐng, scene/light) with 彡 (decorative strokes suggesting rays or markings), giving the idea of a cast outline. 子 is a common noun suffix. So 影子 yǐngzi reads as scene-rays-thing — a shadow or silhouette.
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.