和 (hé) — (conjunction) and; (preposition) with, together with

和 is the everyday connector for 'and' or 'with' (e.g. 我和你 = 'you and me'). 跟 is the colloquial alternative in speech; 与 is the formal/written one.

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

和 pairs 禾, which gives the sound, with 口 (mouth), the meaning part; the reference connects this shape to harmony.