风沙
fēng shā · HSK 7
sandstorm
🌬️🏜️ 风沙 = wind + sand → wind-blown sand, sandstorm
Compound of 风 (fēng, wind) + 沙 (shā, sand). Literally wind-sand, naming the sand that wind carries through arid regions. Common in northern China weather reports during spring dust season.
风 — 几 (table) + 虫 (insect)
Originally written 鳳 (phoenix), later simplified. The traditional form 風 contains 虫 (insect), reflecting an old belief that wind brought insects or that creatures stirred with the wind. The modern simplified 风 keeps 几 as an outer frame around 㐅.