phosphorus
—
燐 centers on phosphorus, a chemical element known for its faint glow when exposed to air. The meaning is specific to this element and its luminescent property.
phosphorus (P)
phosphorescence
arginine phosphoric acid
creatine phosphate
metaphosphoric acid
hypophosphorous acid
phosphorous light; ignis fatuus; will-o'-the-wisp
phosphate rock; phosphorite
apatite
amblygonite
matchbox label
phosphoprotein
phosphoric ore
phosphorite; rock phosphate; phosphate rock
white phosphorus
white phosphorus shell
superphosphate
superphosphate
superphosphate of lime; calcium superphosphate
superphosphate fertilizer
燐 combines 火 (fire) with 粦, which likely contributes the sound リン. The character was created to represent phosphorus, referencing its glow like a fire.
The left side is fire 火, and the right side 粦 looks like a complex arrangement. Imagine a mysterious fire that glows faintly in the dark—that's phosphorus.
For リン, think of a ring of phosphorus glowing in the dark: ring -> リン, and the fire 火 on the left makes it glow.