小插曲

• 小(small; tiny)ASSOCIATIVE

Three tiny strokes represent fine grains of sand, conveying the meaning of "small" or "tiny."

• 扌(hand)RADICAL
• 臿(shovel; spade)PHONETIC

Using your hand to grip a plum and push it down into the earth is the action of inserting or wedging something in.

• 曰(mouth open; speak)RADICAL
• 丨丨(two vertical strokes indicating a curve)ASSOCIATIVE

The character 曲 shows a vessel's mouth with two curved walls, evoking the image of a bent and winding elbow.