dice, form, appearance, take, gather, coloring
采 centers on the act of picking or gathering something, which extends naturally to taking, selecting, or the resulting form and appearance. The dice and coloring senses are specific applications: dice as objects gathered and thrown, and coloring as the gathered hues that give form.
采 combines 爫 (claw/hand) over 木 (tree), suggesting a hand picking fruit or leaves from a tree. This gives the core idea of picking or gathering. The modern meanings of dice and coloring are later developments.
Picture a hand (爫) reaching down to pluck fruit from a tree (木). That act of picking is the heart of 采: gathering, taking, and the resulting colorful form.
For サイ, imagine a sigh of satisfaction as you gather the last fruit: sigh -> サイ, and your hand finishes the picking.
cheers; applause; ovation; acclamation
baton (of command)
baton (of command)
appearance; air; mien; getup
to applaud; to cheer (for)
clapping and cheering; applause
surpassing looks; exceptional appearance
betrothal gift
maid-in-waiting (ritsuryō system)
high-ranking staff member in the Office of Court Ladies (ritsuryō system)
Office of Court Ladies (ritsuryō system)
director of the Office of Court Ladies (ritsuryō system)
Asian serviceberry (Amelanchier asiatica); shadberry; juneberry; shadbush; shadblow
to lead; to direct; to take command
to wield a baton; to swing a baton
Cremastra appendiculata (species of orchid)
of poor appearance; unimpressive-looking; undistinguished-looking; unattractive