TSUMUGU · TOCFL 1 (est.) · 字
什
什 ＝ 亻 ＋ 十
ㄕㄣˊ · shén/shí
pron — what (什麼); (shí) a unit of ten; assorted
字源 FORM — what the parts do
亻義a person
A person (亻) and ten (十) — a file of ten men, a unit of ten households; from the unit, assorted goods (什物). The question word 什麼 borrowed the character for its sound alone.
故事 STORY — a scene to remember it by
十（十）個人（亻）編成一隊，齊步走。
Ten (十) men (亻) made one file, marching in step.
字源記憶法
意 · Meanings
shén
(假借)什麼— what — a sound-loan常用
shí
(本義)一什、什物— a unit of ten; assorted goods
→什錦— assorted — a bit of everything
(本義) original meaning · → ⇒ each arrow = one more step of extension