梯子
tī zi · HSK 7
ladder
🪜 梯 = ladder + 子 noun-suffix; 梯 has the 木 wood radical, as old ladders were wooden
梯 (tī) is the ladder itself, built from 木 (wood) plus a phonetic part; 子 (zi) is a common noun-suffix that turns it into an everyday object word, like in 桌子 table or 椅子 chair.
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.