松
sōng · HSK 4
loose
🌲 松 = 木 (tree) + 公 (gōng, public) — pine tree; pine cones are loose and flaky
Original sense is the pine tree (木 wood radical + 公 as phonetic). Pine needles and cones fall away loosely, so 松 extended to mean loose, slack, and flaky — like 肉松 (ròusōng), shredded fluffy pork floss.
松 — tree 木 + public 公
A semantic-phonetic compound: 木 (tree) gives the meaning, while 公 (gōng) hints at the sound. Originally referring to the pine tree, whose loose, spreading needles led to the extended meaning 'loose' or 'relaxed'.