素 (sù)

raw silk; white; plain, unadorned; vegetarian (food); essence; nature;

HSK 3.1 level 7
10 strokes

Etymology

Depicts raw silk (糸) hanging from a rack.

Shuowen Jiezi

《說文》：“素，白緻繒也。从糸、，取其澤也。”

Components

◎ (iconic) — Depicts a rack.
糸 (iconic) — Depicts raw silk.