秒
miǎo · HSK 5
second
⏱️ 禾 (grain) + 少 (few) — a tiny sliver of time, a second
Etymology: 秒 combines 禾 (grain stalk) with 少 (few/small), originally meaning a tiny grain tip — extended to denote the smallest slice of time, a second on the clock.
秒 — grain 禾 + few 少
A semantic-phonetic compound: 禾 (grain) gives the meaning and 少 (few/small) hints at the sound and the idea of something tiny. Originally referred to the fine awn or beard tip of a grain stalk, then extended to mean 'a tiny amount.' In modern Chinese it is borrowed to mean 'second' (the time unit).