消

xiāo
#439 most
frequent character
to diminish, to subside, to consume

Character breakdown

Source: Make Me a Hanzi.

消 links 氵 water with 肖 xiào, which marks the sound. It first meant to disappear or dissipate. From making something vanish came the sense to consume.

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Homophones

削xiāo
to peel with a knife, to pare
萧xiāo
(old) Chinese mugwort
销xiāo
to melt (metal), to cancel, to annul

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