Ideographic: To sell 卖 a soul for money 贝; 卖 also provides the pronunciationRadical:

meaning for shú:

  • - to redeem
  • - to ransomto atone for one's crime
  • - to buy freedom from punishment
  • - redemption
  • - atonementransomto atone for one's crimes by meritorious actsto save (a soul)
  • - redemptionto redeem