why?; for what reason?
为 · 4 strokes
Simplified form of 為. Pictograph of a hand (又) guiding an elephant (象) to do work (in ancient China elephants were tamed to do work). Based on the meaning "to work; to do".
什 · 4 strokes
The character is based on the original meaning "file of ten soldiers". The modern meaning "what" is a phonetic loan.
么 · 3 strokes
Variant form of 幺, which is a pictograph of a twisted thread.