Ideographic: Many small 少 stones 石; 少 also provides the pronunciationRadical:

meaning for shā:

  • - sand
  • - gravel
  • - granule
  • - variant of 沙 sandstonecinnabar
  • - mercuric sulfide HgS
  • - also written 朱砂 cinnabar
  • - mercuric sulfide HgScasserole
  • - earthenware potgrinding wheel
  • - emery wheel