朴素
pǔ sù · HSK 7
simple living
🌾 朴 = unworked wood + 素 = undyed white silk; both raw and plain = simple and unadorned
朴 originally meant a tree in its natural, uncarved state; 素 meant plain undyed silk. Two images of raw, untreated material combine into the sense of plain, modest, frugal living.
素 — silk 糸 + sheng 𠂹 (hanging threads)
Originally depicted raw, undyed silk hanging to dry, with the silk radical 糸 below and strands above. From this came the meaning 'plain, unadorned, white,' then extended to 'basic element' or 'plain/simple' in general. The 'vegetarian' sense developed later from the idea of plain, unembellished food.