禾

he

grain, cereal

rice plant

A rice stalk is a kind of a tree (木) that hangs its head (丿) as it ripens.

和

he

harmony, peace

and; with

rice plant/grains 禾 [hé] + mouth 口 [kǒu]

a lot of grains (禾) for all mouths (口) creates peace AND harmony

火

huo

秋

qiu

autumn, fall

rice plant 禾 [hé] + fire 火[huǒ]

when grains (禾) meets fire (火) it's autumn—time to harvest and burn fields

刂

dao

利

li

sharp

profit, benefit

rice plant (he) + knife (dao)

a rice plant is cut with precision because the knife is sharp, thus profiting from the efficiency

香

xiang

fragrant, good-smelling

incense (tamjan)

rice plant 禾 [hé] + sun 日 [rì

rice (禾) baked by the sun (日) releases a fragrance that pleases gods and mortals alike

且

qie

and, furthermore,

moreover; temporarily

a sacrificial stand or altar

think of 且 as a PLUS sign

租

zu

to rent, to lease, tax

rice plant 禾 [hé] + cutting board/and 且²²⁴[qiě]

bags of rice (禾) stacked (且) and carried to a landlord to pay the rent

子

zi

季

ji

season (of the year)

youngest child

rice plant 禾 [hé] + child 子⁹⁵[zǐ]

grain plants (禾) gives birth to new life (子) during the best of the seasons