hope, beg, request, pray, beseech, Greece, dilute (acid), rare, few, phenomenal
希 centers on something desired but scarce: hoping or praying for what is rare, few, or phenomenal. The sense of begging or requesting is a natural extension of earnestly wanting something that is not easily obtained. The meaning 'dilute (acid)' is a specialized application of making something sparse or thin, and 'Greece' is an abbreviation derived from the sound.
希 is composed of 㐅 (a simplified cross shape) over 布 (cloth). The historical origin is uncertain, but it may have originally depicted sparse threads on a loom, giving the idea of rarity or thinness, from which the meanings of hope and request developed.
Imagine a rare, phenomenal cloth (布) marked with a special cross (㐅) on top. Because it is so scarce, people beg and pray to obtain even a small piece.
For キ, picture a key (キー) that unlocks a box containing the rare, hoped-for cloth. The key represents the earnest request to access something scarce.
hope; wish; aspiration
dilute
scarce; rare
thin (air); weak (liquid); dilute; sparse (population); rarefied
rare; uncommon
dilution
longing; strong desire; aspiration
uncommon; rare; extraordinary; matchless
rare; uncommon
70th birthday
rare earth
those who want it
manufacturer's recommended price
manufacturer's suggested retail price; MSRP
men seldom live to be seventy; few people live to be seventy
asylum seeker
request to remain anonymous; name withheld by request
those interested in participating; persons wishing to participate
applicant for a job; job seeker; job-hunter
to beg; to request; to beseech; to implore; to entreat