素
sù
raw silk
white; plain, unadorned; vegetarian (food); essence; nature; element; constituent; usually; always; ever
plant growth (龶) + silk threads (糸) = raw, plain, elemental
Raw silk threads were naturally white and unprocessed, making 素 the root concept for plainness, purity, and elemental nature. From 'undyed silk' the meaning extended to anything essential, unadorned, or constitutive.
她平时吃素，很少吃肉。
tā píng shí chī sù，hěn shǎo chī ròu。
She usually eats vegetarian food and rarely eats meat.
他素来做事认真，从不马虎。
tā sù lái zuò shì rèn zhēn，cóng bù mǎ hu。
He has always been careful in doing things and never careless.
Words with 素
雄激素
xióng jī sù
male hormone
我行我素
wǒ xíng wǒ sù
to continue in one's own way (idiom)
素未谋面
sù wèi móu miàn
(idiom) to have never met
平素
píng sù
usually
素有
sù yǒu
to have
氯霉素
lǜ méi sù
(pharmacology) chloramphenicol
素朴
sù pǔ
simple
素养
sù yǎng
(personal) accomplishment
字素
zì sù
grapheme
色素
sè sù
pigment
酪素
lào sù
casein (milk protein)
酵素
jiào sù
enzyme