私
わたし · watashi · JLPT N5 · noun
iodine
私 = grain 禾 + private 厶: my own share of the harvest, hence me
Etymology: 禾 is grain and 厶 marks something kept for oneself. Grain held back as private became the word for private, then for the self. Sound hook: watashi starts like what — What a she? No, it is I.
わたくし · watakushi · JLPT N5 · noun
iodine
🌾 私 = 禾 grain + 厶 private: my own share of the grain, so private, I
The left part 禾 means grain and the right part 厶 is an old sign for self or private. Grain kept back for oneself gave the sense private, then the person speaking. Watakushi is the formal reading; the everyday watashi is the same word with ku dropped.