砂

sha̅ = sh + a1

sand / gravel / granule / variant of 沙[sha1]

砂 = 石 + 少 : Sherlock Holmes (sh) wants to join the ashram. In front of the ashram (a1) he has to grind a rock (石) into sand (砂) while Smiley (少) is supervising him in order to prove himself.

砂 character breakdown

砂
- 少
  - 丿
  - 小
    - 亅
    - 八
      - 丿
      - ㇏
- 石
  - 丆
    - 一
    - 丿
  - 口

少

shǎo = sh + ao3

few / less / to lack / to be missing / to stop (doing sth) / seldom

少 = 丿 + 小 : Mnemonic symbol: 少 looks like a smiley face.

There's a food shortage (少) in the aorta, and Sherlock Holmes (sh) and Smiley (少) are looking for food in the living room (ao3). There's only one banana (丿) left. Soon they'll have to eat the many daisies (小) which are growing there.

少

shào = sh + ao4

young

石

shí = sh + Ø2

surname Shi / abbr. for Shijiazhuang 石家莊|石家庄[Shi2 jia1 zhuang1]

石 = 丆 + 口 : Sherlock Holmes finds the space station's entrance blocked by a big rock. He uses a wind wheel and a mandarin to build a lever, with which he is able to move the rock.

石

dàn = d + an4

dry measure for grain equal to ten dou 斗 / ten pecks / one hundred liters

石

shí = sh + Ø2

rock / stone / stone inscription / one of the eight categories of ancient musical instruments 八音[ba1 yin1]

石 = 丆 + 口 : Sherlock Holmes finds the space station's entrance blocked by a big rock. He uses a wind wheel and a mandarin to build a lever, with which he is able to move the rock.

石

dàn = d + an4

dry measure for grain equal to ten dou 斗[dou3]; one hundred liters / ancient pr. [shi2]