素
もと · moto · JLPT N3 · noun
prime
🧵 素 = sprout top + 糸 thread: raw silk, the prime stuff before dyeing
素 first meant plain, undyed silk thread, the raw material everything else is made from. That is why it means origin or base, as in 素材 (raw material) and 元素 (element). Hook: moto is the motor, the prime source that gets things going.
素 — silk 糸 + sheng 𠂹 (hanging threads)
Originally depicted raw, undyed silk hanging to dry, with the silk radical 糸 below and strands above. From this came the meaning 'plain, unadorned, white,' then extended to 'basic element' or 'plain/simple' in general. The 'vegetarian' sense developed later from the idea of plain, unembellished food.