child, sign of the rat, 11PM-1AM, first sign of Chinese zodiac
子 centers on a young or small being: a child. Its use as the first zodiac sign (rat) and the midnight hour (11PM–1AM) comes from the Chinese zodiac system, where the rat is the first animal and the hour is associated with new beginnings.
子 is a pictograph of a child with a large head and outstretched arms. The modern form retains the basic shape: a head-like top, a body, and arms.
The top horizontal stroke is the head, the hooked vertical stroke is the body, and the long horizontal stroke is the arms of a small child reaching out.
For シ, imagine a child saying 'she' when pointing at a picture of a baby: she -> シ, and the child is the subject.
the Rat (first sign of the Chinese zodiac)
child; kid; teenager; youngster; young (non-adult) person
child; children
woman; girl
girl; daughter; baby girl
son
boy
electron
state (of affairs); situation; circumstances
tune; tone; key; pitch; time; rhythm
prince
boy; son; baby boy
gene
confections; sweets; candy; cake
chair; seat; stool; bench
hat; cap
parent and child
girls' high school
twins; twin
atomic energy; nuclear power
Koshien Stadium (baseball park in Nishinomiya, Hyōgo Prefecture)
women's college; women's university
child rearing; child raising; raising children; parenting
atom
sperm; spermatozoon
pupil; disciple; adherent; follower; apprentice; young person; teacher's student-helper
confectionery; sweets; candy; cake
gyoza; pot sticker; crescent-shaped pan-fried dumplings stuffed with minced pork and vegetables
eggplant (Solanum melongena); aubergine
descendant; progeny; offspring
molecule
particle; grain
subsidiary (company)
womb; uterus
lost child; lost person; stray child; missing child
adopted child (usu. male); son-in-law
kitten
lion
yuzu (Citrus ichangensis x C. reticulata)
wheelchair
puppy
seed; pit
wagashi; traditional Japanese confectionery
mother and child
face; honour; honor
book; booklet; story book; pamphlet; notebook
crown prince
looking after a baby; taking care of a baby; babysitting; babysitter
factor
proton
(another's) child
child actor; child actress
one's student (esp. a former one); one's pupil; one's disciple
element (esp. component in electronics); elemental device; device
lattice; latticework; window bars; grid; grating; trellis
capsicum (Capsicum annuum, esp. the cultivated chili peppers); chili pepper (chile, chilli); cayenne; red pepper
time; meter; metre; rhythm
interest (on a deposit, loan, etc.)
penny candy; cheap individually wrapped sweets
foster child
ladder
red bean paste; red bean jam; anko
(sake) decanter
dog; doggy; bow-wow
(another's) son
wife and children
seal (used in lieu of a signature); stamp; chop
youngest child
sons and daughters; children
folding fan
(an) only child
dancer (usu. female)
man of virtue; wise man; (true) gentleman
spore
crown prince
ovum; ovule; egg cell
shoji (paper sliding door)
pendulum
father and child; father and son; father and daughter
neutron
young nobleman
mustard
lamb
elementary particle; particle
nucleus; atomic nucleus
biological child; one's own child
infant; baby; little child
main point; gist; essentials; bones (e.g. of an idea); pith
Laozi; Lao Tzu; Lao Tse
children; sons; children and younger brothers
abandoned child; foundling
calf
women and children
heir
child one is expecting; child in one's womb
confectionery shop; candy store; sweet shop
lazy son; profligate son
only son
flippant; frivolous; shallow
atomic reactor; nuclear reactor
female high school student
children; kids
(time of) one's childhood; when one was a child
for use by children; for children
lullaby
booklet; pamphlet
becoming a pupil (of); becoming an apprentice
file extension
one's normal condition; one's usual state
to wait and see; to see how things go; to survey the situation
(true) Tokyoite; Edoite; Tokyo native; Edokko
(earning or paying) no interest
crown princess
extension ladder; aerial ladder
confectionery shop; candy store; sweet shop
email; e-mail; electronic mail
electronic parts; electronic components
small-time candy store; penny candy store