磨
mó · HSK 6
grind
⚙️ sounds like MO-tor grinding away
A motor grinds and turns round and round, just like a millstone. The top part 麻 (hemp) sits over 石 (stone): hemp fibers crushed between stones in a grinding mill.
磨 — stone 石 + hemp 麻 (phonetic)
A semantic-phonetic compound: 石 'stone' gives the meaning (grinding involves stones), while 麻 'hemp' supplies the sound. Originally referred to a millstone or the act of grinding grain, later extending to 'rub, polish, wear down' and figuratively 'to torment' or 'waste time'.