empty grain husk
粃 centers on a grain husk that is empty or worthless, specifically an unfilled husk left after threshing.
粃 combines 米 (rice/grain) with 比, which likely contributes a phonetic element. The character expresses the idea of worthless or empty grain husks.
Rice 米 is compared 比 to something worthless: an empty husk. Picture two piles of grain side by side, one full and one just hollow shells.
For ヒ, imagine a heap of empty husks that makes you sigh 'hee' in disappointment: hee -> ヒ, the sound of worthless grain.