letter (of the alphabet); CL:個|个[ge4]
字 · 6 strokes
Phonosemantic compound. 宀 represents the meaning and 子 represents the sound. The 宀 (roof) component is based on the original meaning "raise up children". The meaning later shifted to "educate", "word"…
母 · 5 strokes
Pictograph of a woman kneeling, with two dots representing the two nipples that mothers use to feed their young.