样品
yàng pǐn · HSK 7
sample
🧪 样品 = 样 (pattern/sample) + 品 (goods/product) -> a goods sample
样 carries the sense of a model or pattern, and 品 means goods or product. Put together, 样品 is the one product pulled out as the pattern others are judged by: a sample or specimen.
样 — wood radical 木 + sheep 羊
样 is a phono-semantic compound. The wood radical 木 originally hinted at meaning (a wooden model or sample), while 羊 (sheep) supplies the sound. From 'wooden pattern/template' it broadened to mean 'shape, form, kind, manner'.
品 — three 口 (mouth) stacked
品 is an ideogram showing three 口 (mouths or openings) piled together. The repetition of 口 suggests many people, items, or voices, which gave rise to meanings like 'kinds,' 'goods,' 'rank,' and 'to taste/judge.' The triple stacking is a common Chinese device for indicating plurality or variety.