星 (xīng) — star, celestial body; bit, particle (as in 一星半点)

Literary/classical noun for a star (celestial body); in modern speech 星星 is more common. In the set phrase 一星半点 it means 'a tiny bit' — the only everyday use at this level.

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

The top of 星 is a later simplified form of 晶, twinkling stars; the bottom 生 shows the sound.